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If 


EVANGELINE CISNEROS. 








A Cuban Amazon 


BY 

VIRGINIA LYNDALL DUNBAR. 




“ What is writ is writ — 

Would it were worthier I " 

Byron. 


CINCINNATI, OHIO. 

Thb Editor Publishing Company, 
No. 327 Pike Building. 

1897. 



‘1 


% 



COPYRIGHT, 1897 , BY 

The Editor Publishing Company. 




/ 


©ebtcAttott. 


In fond End laving mainary af one whose 
heart avar haat with sympathy for 
tha opprassad af all nations, 
and whosa hand was avar outstratchad 
in help toward tham, 


MY MOTHER. 




TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Introduction, 7 

Chapter I, 13 

Chapter II, 24 

Chapter III, 36 

Chapter IV, 45 

Chapter V, 57 

Chapter VI, 65 

Chapter VII, 78 

Chapter VIII, 86 

Chapter IX, 95 

Chapter X, 99 

Chapter XI, » - - - - - 109 

Chapter XII, 118 

Chapter XIII, 126 

Chapter XIV, 140 

Chapter XV, 148 

Chapter XVI, 157 

Chapter XVII, 163 

Chapter XVIII, 173 

Chapter XIX, 180 

Chapter XX, 190 

Chapter XXI, 198 

Chapter XXII, 206 

Chapter XXIII, 219 

Chapter XXIV, 232 

Chapter XXV, 241 

Chapter XXVI, 250 

Chapter XXVII, 257 

Chapter XXVIII, 264 

Chapter XXIX, 279 

Chapter XXX, 285 

Author’s Note, 292 

( 5 ) 







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INTRODUCTION. 


compiling the following pages, the 
^ difficulty has been not so much the lack 
^ of material, as its superabundance. At 
a time when a war filled with cruelties the 
most infamous and outrages the most horrible 
is still continuing, it has sometimes been a 
matter of difficulty to judge aright as to what 
incidents and personages one may use and yet 
give no offense. 

The characters and incidents herein depicted 
are taken from the note-book of a war corre- 
spondent who had seen and conversed with 
the principal personages, and from them 
learned of some of the horrors of Spanish 
cruelty ; others he witnessed with his own eyes. 
The statements have all been sworn to, and 
their truthfulness is not to be doubted. 

Captain Harry Earle, war correspondent for 
the Scripps-McRae League, spent two years 

( 7 ) 


8 


Introduction. 


and a half in Cuba, and it was during a visit 
to the Carcel Nacionale to see the the Amer- 
ican, Scott, at that time an inmate, and who 
had been found “ not guilty,” but who never- 
theless was not released, that he first learned of 
the young girl, Evangeline Cisneros, then as 
now confined in the Carcel Real des Rinardios. 

Her story was so full of wrongs, crying out 
to the brave of all nations for sympathy and 
help, that it made an impression upon the 
Captain, who, in connection with other corre- 
spondents, succeeded in bringing her a little 
aid, and in bettering her condition somewhat. 

Judge Cassuso, her kinsman, was sentenced 
to Fernando Po, as herein described, for re- 
fusing to pronounce sentence of death — first, 
upon Scott, the American, two Cubans, and 
lastly upon Evangeline and her father. He is 
now serving a twenty-year sentence at hard 
labor, and in chains, in the cane fields of Fer- 
nando Po. The father of Evangeline perished 
for the reasons and in the manner given in the 
following pages. 

The horrors that are daily and hourly taking 


Introduction, 


9 


place in the wretched island are, in the words 
of Captain Earle, “ Impossible to be described ! 
One dare not write or tell the half of them ! 
No language on earth has words wherewith to 
picture them ! ” To do them justice, one must 
command the murderous, demoniacal, infernal 
maledictions of hell ! 

See the case of Dr. Leon Sanchez, who, 
when arrested, told the officer again and 
again that he was ‘ ‘ an American citizen ; ’ ’ 
the reply he received was, “You’re just the 
kind we are looking for.” And despite his 
protests and prayers that he might see his 
loved ones and say farewell, he was shot with- 
out even the semblance of a trial. His family 
were then sent to bury him, and told to 
“cover that vermin quickly, or you’ll be 
served likewise.” While the sorrowing little 
band were performing their melancholy duty, 
the Spaniards burned their home. 

The guerrilla work is far worse than that of 
which the most cruel North American Indian 
ever dreamed. Commandante Guirretta was 
a butcher by trade ; one who had been im- 


lO 


Introduction, 


prisoned for robbery. He was released by the 
Spanish Government and given command of 
two hundred guerrillas, and he has carried 
his former trade into his present calling. He 
boasted, on the veranda of the Hotel Ricado, 
that he had during one week, destroyed “ t'wo 
hundred and twenty -eight Pacificos, mostly 
women and children! ’ ’ He laughingly told also 
where fifty or more of the bodies could be 
seen still lying in the ditches. The place was 
visited and his statements verified. And yet 
we call this an enlightened and civilized age ! 

The people of Cuba are suffering and starv- 
ing; their fields have been laid waste, and 
their homes destroyed. It is no uncommon 
sight to see the father of a family tied to a 
tree, cross-marked over the abdomen by the 
cruel machete, his wife and children mur- 
dered, his little home in flames, while in the 
distance the guerrilla band moves onward in 
its work of death and rapine. Every home, 
every hut, from Havana to Pinar del Rio, has 
been razed to the ground or burned. The 
ditches as well as the fields, the wells, and 


Introduction. 


II 


the roadways are filled with the unburied dead. 
Cuba is one vast charnel-house ; and she 
stretches out her hands to us, and implores our 
pity and our help in this her hour of direst 
need ; and shall the descendants of that 
gallant little band of patriots who fought so 
desperately to shake of the tyrant hand of a 
stronger nation, shall we refuse or withhold 
our assistance when a sister nation pleads to 
us? Forbid it. Almighty God! 

There may be those who will cavil at the 
fact that certain incidents are given in such 
plain language. To those I would say that 
the book was not written for babes and suck- 
lings, but for thinking men and women, and 
that I have not exaggerated a single incident. 
In an hour like this we must either tell the 
truth when we speak, or keep silence. To 
those who fear to read these truths I would 
respectfully advise some other book than “A 
Cuban Amazon.” 

My one regret throughout the writing of 
the book has been that I am neither a Bulwer 
nor a Hugo, that “I might put a tongue into 


12 


Introduction. 


every wound” of Cuba’s “that should move 
the very stones to rise and mutiny.” 

But if I shall have succeeded in rousing in 
the breasts of my countrymen pity for the 
forlorn condition of those brave men who are 
fighting for home, family, wife and children, 
their native land, and the right to call it ^ 
theirs — if, as I say, I shall have roused in the 
heart of but one man a sufficient love of justice 
and hatred of tyranny to nerve him to ‘ ‘ arm 
for the cause that is just,” then a great and a 
noble work shall have been accomplished, I 
shall feel myself amply repaid, and “A Cuban 
Amazon” shall not have been written in vain. 

V. L. D. 

Cincinnati, Ohio, 

September ist, 1897. 


}\ €ubdn Jltna^on 


CHAPTER I. 

“ * * * Little else than a picture of human crimes 
and misfortunes.” — Voltaire. 

“Where’s the coward that would not dare to fight 
for such a land.” — Scott. 

S OUTH of Cuba, and separated from the 
mainland by a stretch of sea some fifteen 
miles in width, that ever lashes itself into 
anger, and by its very restless, never-ending 
swish and wash seems to urge the inhabitants 
on to opposition against Spanish tyranny, lies 
the once far-famed pirate Isle of Pines. It 
belongs to the province of Havana, and is now 
a Spanish penal settlement which, in the sum- 
mer time — or during the “rainy season” — be- 
comes a veritable hot-bed of disease, when 
the unfortunate Cubans imprisoned there die 
by hundreds. 

At the outbreak of the Cuban war this Isle 
was one of the fairest of all the Cuban prov- 
inces, with its thriving little town of Nueva 

(» 3 ) 


H 


A Cuban Amazon. 


Gerona lying like a gem upon its fair breast. 
Only a short distance away lay the Esper- 
anza plantation, with the white- walled had- 
enda gleaming dazzlingly in the bright sun- 
light, or, when the soft radiance of the moon 
bathes everything in molten silver, shining 
ghostly white from out the deep shadows 
about its feet. 

Dotted all about lay the cabins of the serv- 
ants, The owner of Esperanza, Francisco 
Vincente Cisneros, is a brother of the Presi- 
dent of the Cuban Republic, and a true pa- 
triot, although he is prevented by lameness 
and a life-long infirmity from active partici- 
pation in the struggle for his country’s free- 
dom. 

Despite his well-known Cuban sympathies, 
Cisneros had apparently no better friend than 
Colonel Juan Berrez, the haughty young 
Spanish governor of the island, whose troops 
were quartered at Nueva Gerona. 

One evening, in the early autumn of 1895, 
Evangeline, the daughter of Cisneros, wan- 
dered idly among her flowers, herself the fair- 
est, or threw herself restlessly down upon 
some seat beneath a lofty palm to rest for a 
moment, only to rise again and begin her 
walk. 


A Cuban Amazon, 15 

She was but sixteen, but the tropical sun of 
her fair isle had kissed her into the full splen- 
dor of womanhood. Her masses of heavy, 
inky black hair were wound round her small, 
well-set head, the soft waves drawn down 
over the tiny ears until only the rosy tips 
could be seen. The long lashes dropped over 
eyes wherein slept the unawakened passions, 
both good and bad, of a woman of no ordi- 
nary type. Evangeline was arrayed in a 
snowy white muslin, and a frilled kerchief of 
the same was crossed over her white bosom 
and secured there by a tiny brooch of pearls. 

It was one of those nights which are so 
beautiful and so alluring in the tropics, while 
yet the light mist which hangs over all makes 
them so dangerous to human life. Through 
the leafy tree tops, the moonlight, falling upon 
the marble- white walls of the hacienda, formed 
a weird fretwork of lights and shadows. 

As the girl turned, for the twentieth time, 
she heard a footstep, and Berrez crossed the 
gravelled walk, his heavy spurs clanking as 
he came, and Evangeline looked up with a ' 
certain eager anticipation, which passed away 
when she became aware of her visitor’s iden- 
tity. 

“These young military men walk so much 


i6 A Cuban Amazon. 

alike,” she thought, and there was a height- 
ened glow upon her cheeks which Berrez 
altogether misinterpreted. 

“ I am fortunate in finding you alone, 
Senorita,” he said, after the usual salutations, 
formal on the one side, and on the other com- 
plimentary — the compliments which a beauti- 
ful woman wins so readily from the men of 
his race — had passed. 

“My father will be with us very soon, I 
hope,” she said, as she stooped to gather a 
gorgeous musk rose. 

“Two’s company, three’s none,” he ven- 
tured. 

Evangeline’s tongue was sharp at times. 
“ So my father and I find,” she said. 

Berrez’s eyes looked angry, but still he 
smiled. “ Your wit is as keen as ever, Senor- 
ita! It has often wounded my heart.” 

“Then, indeed, ’tis keener than I could 
have believed, Senor Berrez.” 

“ Meaning that my heart is hard, Senorita? 
Ah, well, perhaps that is true of it when I go 
into the world, for it is a hard world, and I 
am a soldier and must not wear my heart upon 
my sleeve that daws may peck it; but ’tis 
tender enough when I meet you, believe me, 
Senorita.” 


A Cuban Amazon. 


17 

“ Ah! ” said Evangeline, indifferently, and 
moved from him with languid grace, as if de- 
sirous of plucking flowers that grew farther 
away. He followed, growing hot and cold 
at her disdain, but displaying a self-control 
which his comrades would not have given him 
credit for possessing. 

“ Why should you take pleasure in wound- 
ing me, Senorita, when you alone, of all the 
world, can create paradise for me with a 
smile? What is life, if our heart takes no 
pity on another? Take pity upon mine, 
Senorita.” 

He seized her hand and showered hot kisses 
upon it. Not far away the soft tinkle of the 
fountain was clear and sharp in the intense 
stillness. A night thrush sang from out the 
dark shadows of the garden, and the musky 
odors of the cyclamen came floating round 
them in that strange cloudy way in which 
flower scents come and go in the air, in the 
night season. 

Evangeline released her hand, and dipping 
it in the fountain bathed it, and then carefully 
dried it with her handkerchief. She said no 
word, but the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her 
rising anger at his persistence. It became 
evident to Berrez that his wooing was not 


2 


1 8 A Cuban Amazon, 

prospering, and that he was but wasting time ; 
so he came to the point at once. 

“ I love you, Senorita! I think of no one 
but you. Will you take pity upon my misery 
and loneliness? Will you be my wife, 
Senorita? ” 

She stood with her back to him, and made 
no sign that she had heard. After a moment 
he continued : “ Have pity upon me, Senorita. 
I love you ! I adore you ! Have some mercy 
upon that love ! Evangeline, tell me, will 
you be my wife ? ” 

“ No! ” It was said very quietly, very un- 
concernedly, as though it were a matter in 
which she had little interest one way or the 
other ; but the tone carried conviction to the 
listener. Nothing could have been more 
effective, more crushing than that single mono- 
syllable, coming as it did at the end of the 
Colonel’s flowery rhapsody. It stung Berrez 
to fury, and he sprang from the kneeling pos- 
ture he had so gracefully assumed but a mo- 
ment before, and grasped the girl’s arm with 
almost brutal force, saying : 

“I say that you shall marry me!” 

Shall — to me, sir!” she said angrily, her 
eyes flaming, her red lips set in a curve of 
contempt. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


19 


Berrez saw that he had gone too far. “For- 
give me,” he pleaded, releasing her arm. “I 
am mad with love of you! Evangeline, I 
can not be happy without you for my wife. 
Will you come?” 

“No, Colonel Berrez ; your pleading is use- 
less.” 

“Tell me, then,” he went on hoarsely, “is 
there another who holds the place in your 
heart I fain would fill?” 

Night’s shadows hid from the Spaniard the 
rich color that mounted from throat to brow 
at these words. Instantly there came before 
her the picture of her Cuban lover and cousin, 
Carlos Perez ; and she would have answered, 
“Yes,” proudly and lovingly, but she feared 
to draw down upon the beloved head the 
hatred of the passionate Spaniard. All this 
passed with lightning-like rapidity through 
her mind during the moment of hesitation ; 
then she answered calmly and quietly ; “No, 
Senor.” 

“Then, Evangeline,” he went on, “you 
have refused my prayer because you do not 
yet know your own heart and mind. Is it 
not true? ” 

What should she answer? She clasped and 
unclasped her fingers nervously. 


20 


A Cuban Amazon. 


“You do not love me no'w^'‘^ he pleaded; 
“ neither do you love any one else, you say; 
and yet your age is that when girls of Cuba 
must love some one. Evangeline, dear heart, 
let that some one be Juan Berrez ! ” 

“No, no! Leave me, I beg of you,” she 
said. “ I love only my father.” 

“I will teach you to love me! The force 
of my love must compel a return,” he 
pleaded. “Are you quite sure there is no other 
reason why you say ‘ no ’ to my suit ? Tell 
me frankly.” 

The girl hesitated ; then she said, her voice 
low, but clear and distinct, cleaving the night 
air sharply: “Colonel Berrez, there is an- 
other reason, and it is this : Never will Evan- 
geline Cisneros wed one who wears the garb 
of a Spanish soldier! ” 

“What matters it, if we love, whether I 
am of Spain or of Cuba.? It is not Spain I 
ask you to wed ; it is myself. ’ ’ 

“Spare yourself, and me, I beg. I can 
never, never do what you ask. Leave me, 
sir, I beg of you ! ” 

Angered beyond control at her cool, per- 
sistent refusal, he stepped towards her with 
clinched hands and hissed: “ Senorita, you 
say me ‘ nay ’ now, but methinks you will 


A Cuban Amazon. 


21 


take back your harsh words, to save your 
father from the tortures which I can and will 
inflict upon him as a Cuban rebel ! ’ ’ 

Paler than the moonlight did she grow, 
yet she calmly faced the man who threatened 
her. Then she said slowly, as though the 
words were choking her: “You dare not! 
You dare not touch a cripple, who has done 
no wrong.” 

He laughed harshly. ‘ ‘ What ! ” he cried. 
“What! I, a Spaniard, dare not, Senorita? 
You forget. Is there anything that could be 
done to a Cuban, for which Spain would not 
applaud me? More especially when that 
Cuban is a Cisneros! ” 

Her head dropped upon her breast. Berrez 
spoke truth, as she knew full well. What 
should she do ? Death were a thousand times 
more to be desired than the clasp of his arms, 
or his hot breath on her cheek. Bah ! She 
could not ! Every fiber of her being rebelled 
and shrank with loathing. 

“ Evangeline, listen to me, dearest ! I love, 
I adore you ! Be my worshiped wife ! I 
can not live without you ! ” 

“ Not in such a fine mode as you might wish, 
sir,” she returned, with stately ceremony; 
‘ ‘ but I have no doubt that you will contrive 


22 


A Cuban Amazon, 


to live in passable comfort, nevertheless ; and 
I wish to assure you that I shall live in most 
excellent comfort without you.” 

Berrez could contain himself no longer ; 
his fine manners, which were but a surface 
polish after all, went to the winds. “You 
vixen ! ” he cried, with an oath. 

Evangeline turned toward him, her eyes 
full upon his. “You coward! It is well 
for you that my cousin is not here,” she said 
haughtily. 

“Your cousin! Aha, that is it, is it, my 
lady? So you’ve been brought up to be his 
wife, eh? Bah! ’Tis a plan well contrived 
to keep these broad acres in the family.” 

“ Silence, sir! ” And her tone was such as 
she might have used to a disobedient dog. 
“You are a craven cur, to speak as you have 
spoken. You would not dare so far in my 
cousin’s presence.” 

“Would I not, Senorita? Would I not? 
Show me the man that Berrez dare not speak 
his mind to ! I swear that all this contrivance 
shall go for naught! You 'will not marry 
me, Senorita ; but I say you shall not marry 
young Perez. On that I’ll wager every cen- 
time of my fortune.” 

“ Better to wager the mortgages, Senor! ” 


A Cuban Amazon. 


23 


‘ ‘ By God ! you need have both beauty and 
estate to balance that cursed tongue!” he 
cried out in fury. “Mark you, Senorita, 
what I have said, and remember it on that 
day which is coming, when you will wish 
that your tongue had been cut out rather than 
given such freedom with me.” 

He had recovered himself a little as he 
spoke, and he bowed to her and walked away 
with somewhat of his usual insolent grace. 

When she was once more alone, the pride 
that had upheld her was flung aside and the 
tears dropped over the white cold cheeks, and 
the long, slender hands locked and unlocked 
themselves in her anguish, while the pale lips 
whispered : 

“ Merciful Father! have pity upon me and 
mine, and upon all Thy suffering children! 
Alas, my God ! our sufferings are great and 
scarcely to be borne. Do with me what Thou 
seest fit, but spare me my father! I implore 
Thee, by Thy Divine pity, spare him! ” 


24 


A Cuban Amazon. 


CHAPTER 11. 

The days oi peace and slumberous calm are fled.” 

— Keats. 

Acting on her first impulse, Evangeline 
sought her father that she might inform him. 
of the scene that had just taken place between 
Berrez and herself, and repeat to him the 
threats uttered by the Governor in his mo- 
mentary passionate anger. 

Entering the library, she was amazed to 
find him in the company of a stranger, with 
an open letter on the table in front of him, 
which he perused with a sorely troubled 
countenance. She checked her hasty steps 
within the doorway, and would have retired 
in silence but her father caught sight of his 
fondly-loved child and said : 

“Evangeline, this gentleman,” indicating 
the stranger with his hand, “is Lieutenant 
Alvarez ; he brings this dispatch from General 
Gomez, advising me to join your uncle at 
Cubitas immediately; here it is, read.” 

Taking the dispatch from her father, Evan- 
geline read the following : 


A Cuban Amazon. 


25 


Patriots’ Camp, San Juan de Yara, 
Province Santa Clara, 
Isle de Cuba. 

To His Excellency Don Vincente Cisneros y Be- 
ta ucourt — Greeti ng : 

I have received information which has disturbed 
me greatly, to the effect that your arrest and the con- 
fiscation of your property will occur very shortly. I 
therefore send this by special courier, and urge you 
to take steps to join us, with all the arms and ammuni- 
tion you can possibly procure. A strong escort will 
meet you at the Point de Malahambra. You can 
trust the bearer, Lieutenant Alvarez, in everything. 
After your arrival here', I will forward yourself and 
daughter to Cubitas with a suitable escort. Lose 
no time. Act immediately on receiving this. 

I am. Signor, 

Your sincere friend, 

Maximo Gomez, 

General-in-Chief. 

As she finished reading, Evangeline looked 
her father steadily in the eye. Her face was 
pale and set, and her features seemed as if 
chiseled from marble. “Father,” she said, 
and her voice was husky, though she spoke 
firmly, “it is quite true that we are not safe 
here and she rapidly rehearsed the scene be- 
tween Berrez and herself. As she spoke, the 
look of anxiety deepened on the older man’s 
countenance, and the shadows about the still 
keen dark eyes grew heavier. 


26 


A Cuban Amazon, 


For some time there was silence, broken 
only by the ticking of the tall clock at the 
end of the room. Alvarez and the girl waited 
for Cisneros to speak, while they watched the 
different expressions chase each other over his 
fine face. At length, rising from his chair, 
he said gravely : 

“You are right. I can plainly see the 
meaning of Berrez’s threats, and I see no al- 
ternative but flight.” Then taking his daugh- 
ter’s face between his hands, he kissed her 
fondly, and continued: “Leave me, Mia 
Cara. To-night, I must think ; to-morrow, I 
will decide.” 

The unhappy girl tossed through the long 
night, unable either to sleep or rest. At 
length, while yet the east was but slightly 
streaked with coming dawn, she rose, and 
calling her maid, Therasita, robed herself in 
a light morning gown ; and after partaking 
of the customary cup of coffee — without which 
the Cuban, either man or woman, fancies him 
or herself unable to properly begin the day — 
Evangeline went to the library for a book 
with which she might distract her thoughts 
from the unpleasant as well as perilous occur- 
rences of the previous evening. 

In one corner of the wide, vine-shaded ver- 


A Cuban Amazon. 


27 


anda swung Evangeline’s hammock, piled 
with dainty cushions and everything to invite 
rest and comfort. In vain did she strive to 
read ; she could not fix her wandering atten- 
tion upon the book, try as she would ; the 
anxiety which had driven sleep from her eye- 
lids through the night would not be so easily 
put aside. 

For more than an hour she lay with the 
book in her hand and her eyes fixed on space. 
Not a page did she turn, and the troubled 
look in the beautiful dark eyes grew deeper 
and deeper, as she lay there unheeding what 
was passing around her. Presently she lifted 
her head and listened as the sharp clatter of a 
horse’s hoofs sounded closer and closer, com- 
ing up the avenue, and in a moment her lover, 
Carlos Perez, ran lightly up the veranda steps 
and caught her to his heart. 

“ Mia Cara.,'' he murmured, caressingly, as 
he pressed his lips to her perfumed hair and 
gazed down into the eyes turned so lovingly 
up to his own, “ tell me what causes this look 
of trouble?” 

“Ah, my Carlos,” she replied, the tears 
gathering in the soft eyes, “ I am sad at heart. 
I know not what is best to do. I fear the 
days of our happiness are over.” 


28 


A Cuban Amazon. 


“ And wherefore, dearest? ” 

In reply she related to him all that had 
transpired ; the proposal and threat of Berrez, 
and the arrival of Alvarez with the dispatch 
from General Gomez, and she continued : 

“ Carlos, I mistrust this Lieutenant Alvarez. 

I can not tell you why, but I do. It is the un- 
failing intuition of a woman that leads me to ^ 
suspect him.” 

“ Nay, dear one, your fears are groundless. 
The trusted agent of Gomez would never 
prove faithless.” 

“Perhaps you are right, perhaps you are 
right,” she murmured, “ I hope you are ; but, 
Carlos, what are we to do? We can not re- 
main here.” 

“Mia Cara, we must await your father’s 
decision ; but be assured that wherever you 
go, I shall be there to protect you as long as 
there is life in my body! ” 

At this moment Alvarez stepped through 
an open window upon the veranda. Lifting 
his sombrero with easy grace, he greeted 
Evangeline with the customary Cuban saluta- 
tion of Buenas dtas, Senorita.'^' 

A hasty glance passed between the lovers, 
and Evangeline whispered: “He has been 
listening;” but she bowed to Alvarez and 


A Cuban Amazon, 


29 


replied to his greeting in his own words — 
'‘^Buenas dias^ Senor,^' and added: ‘‘Per- 
mit me to introduce to you my very good 
friend and cousin, Don Carlos Perez ; Senor 
Lieutenant Alvarez, of the Patriot Army of 
Cuba Libre.''"' 

Both gentlemen bowed, and Perez remarked : 
“ I am honored in meeting an officer of our 
brave army, Senor, and I am at your service 
to command when you require anything.” 

In reply Alvarez said : “I accept the 
Senor’s kind offer, and trust that we shall be 
friends. Senorita,” he continued, turning to 
Evangeline, “ do you know where I may find 
your father? ” 

“No, Senor, I do not, unless he is some- 
where down the plantation.” 

“ Thank you ; then I will try to find him. 
Adios^ Senor. I trust we shall meet again,” 
and Alvarez bowed and departed. 

Perez watched him out of sight, and then 
turning to Evangeline and drawing the lovely 
girl to him he cried : “I feel that you are 
right, my dearest. The expression in that 
man’s eyes makes me mistrust him. Yes, I 
feel sure that he is not to be relied upon ; the 
dangers that encompass us are greater than I 
imagined. I must see your father as soon as pos- 


30 


A Cuban Amazon, 


sible and make arrangements with him for your 
safety. I must leave you now, dear love, but 
I will return again this evening after dinner. 
Will you in the meantime say to your dear 
and honored father that, come what will, I am 
his to command. Adios, my own, my sweet ; 
keep a brave heart until I return.” 

He kissed her again and again on brow and 
cheek, on eyes and lips, on white throat and 
whiter shoulder, ever returning to the sweet 
mouth as though consumed with a burning 
thirst that only her dewy lips could quench ! 

At length he disengaged those clinging 
arms, and hastening down the veranda steps, 
mounted and rode away. Evangeline stood 
watching until the tall palm trees hid him 
from sight ; then the overwrought girl re- 
turned to her hammock, where, worn out and 
exhausted, she burst into tears and sobbed 
unrestrainedly. Gradually the sobs grew less 
and less frequent, and less and less violent, as 
slowly the long lashes drooped over the 
tear-bathed eyes, and sorrow and anxiety flew 
away together, and the god of sleep took poor 
Evangeline into his arms and bore her to the 
beautiful land of dreams. 

How long she slept she knew not, but she 
was rudely awakened by having a burning 


A Cudan Amazon, 31 

kiss pressed upon her lips ; and she opened 
her eyes only to find the bold black ones of 
Juan Berrez gazing down into her own, filled 
with a language that sickened her very soul 
and made her heart stop beating with fear 
and terror. 

She started to her feet, crying out : 

‘ ‘ Senor Berrez ! How dare you thus insult 
me!” 

“ Insult you! ” laughed Berrez. “Is it an 
insult for one of Spain’s proudest sons to love 
a Cuban? Senorita, I have come to once 
more implore you to be my wife. Once 
more, and for the last time : Will yoii be my 
wife? ” 

The haughty beauty of the night before 
was gone, and the loving daughter and faith- 
ful betrothed had taken her place. Dis- 
tracted with fears for those she loved, anxious 
to postpone as long as she might the evil that 
she instinctively felt would destroy them, she 
said mournfully, while her eyes filled with hot 
tear-drops : 

“ Senor Berrez, why persist thus? Why 
will you not spare yourself, and spare me? 
Have I not explained to you that I can not 
marry a soldier of Spain? It is impossible — 
utterly impossible ! And you only cause both 


32 


A Cuban Amazon. 


of us pain, in forcing me thus to reiterate my 
refusal.” 

Berrez gazed at the girl for a few moments, 
his lips white and twitching, his eyes fierce 
and dark. At length he said hoarsely : “ Lis- 
ten to me, Evangeline ! If you will not break 
your vow and marry me, then come to me 
without ; be mine, and I swear to treasure 
you so long as life shall last ! Only come to 
me, my dearest. Make my happiness com- 
plete. I will throw up my position, every- 
thing, for your sake ; and we will live together 
far away from all this turmoil and strife — 
away from this war and conspiracy — and, 
happy in our mutual love, forget this unhappy 
land of Cuba ! ” 

For a moment the girl gazed at him in 
horror. The rich blood dyed breast and 
throat and cheek and brow in one great wave 
of shame and misery ; and then, ebbing back, 
left her pale as the dead, pale to ghastliness ! 
She made an effort to speak, but her throat 
was parched, and the effort only ended in a 
faint, gasping sound. 

Berrez attempted to embrace her, and that 
attempt seemed to unlock her frozen senses. 
She raised her hand, and smiting him across 
the face until he staggered from the blow, she 


A Cuban Amazon. 


33 


cried . ‘ ‘ How dare you ! how dare you ! 

Since when has a daughter of Cisneros fallen 
so low that she may be thus insulted? Since 
when has she become so vile that she must 
listen to an offer to become the slave and mis- 
tress of a detested Spaniard? Go! Leave 
me, Senor! Let me try to forget your in- 
sults ! 

Grasping her arm until his brutal fingers 
bruised the tender flesh, his face aflame with 
passion, and smarting under the indignity of 
the blow, Berrez hissed with all the savage 
malignity of his race : “ By God, that blow 

shall cost you dear I You will not be mine 
by fair means, then you shall by force ! And 
I swear that you shall beg, and plead, and 
entreat me for mercy on your bended knees ! 
Remember, I have sworn it!” and whirling 
cm his heel, he strode rapidly away. 

Flinging herself into her hammock, the 
wretched girl sobbed wildly. She realized 
that not only was she herself in danger be- 
cause of her repulse of the Spaniard, but that 
his revenge would be visited upon the heads 
of those dearest to her — her father and her 
lover. What should she do to avert that 
danger ? Where could she go to be safe from 
the Spaniard’s vengeance? 

3 


34 


A Cuban Amazon, 


“Evangeline, my child, what is the mat- 
ter?” said a voice so close at hand that it 
startled her, and she sprang up to find herself 
face to face with her father, whose serious 
eyes gazed down into her own sadly and 
mournfully. Flinging her arms about the old 
man’s neck, she sobbed out the whole shame- 
ful story. “Oh, my father! These are in- 
deed sad days for our house ! Where shall I 
go, what shall I do, to save me from this 
infamous man? ” 

“This decides me,” answered Cisneros; 
“to-night I shall call a meeting of all faithful 
Cubans, in the cave where we have so often 
held our secret gatherings. You, my daughter, 
must prepare for a long journey, as quietly 
and as quickly as possible. That scoundrel 
— Berrez, whose name almost blisters my 
lips — has by his villainy forced me to a step I 
was most unwilling to take. So long as I could 
live peacefully here on my own plantation, 
surrounded by our faithful people, and could 
guard you from danger, I was content. But 
all that is passed now. We are no longer 
safe even within our own home. I go now 
to send forth the ‘call to arms.’ Do not, on 
any account, venture outside the house during 
my absence.” 


A Cubafi Amazon. 


35 


With this admonition he left her, and 
Evangeline retired to her own chamber, a 
prey to the most agonizing thoughts and 
fears. 


3 ^ 


A Cuban Amazon, 


CHAPTER III. 

“Strike ! till the last armed foe expires ! 

Strike ! for jour altars and your fires ! 

Strike ! for the green graves of your sires, 

God, and your native land ! ” 

— Halleck. 

The long summer day passed slowly and 
drearily away, bringing at length the cooling 
breezes from the ocean that beat restlessly 
upon the shores of the little isle. Evangeline 
kept her room closely, giving admittance to no 
one save her maid, who brought her word 
that Colonel Berrez had that day been in a 
fearful temper and had had four of his men 
severely flogged for some slight infringement 
of rules, entirely out of proportion with the 
punishment inflicted. Besides, at his com- 
mand, ten unfortunate Cuban fishermen were 
arrested and thrown into prison. Berrez per- 
sonally accused them of carrying dispatches 
from the mainland to some person or persons 
on the island, as yet unknown to him, but 
whose names he would shortly learn and 
would then deal with them accordingly. 

This news, which she at once repeated to 


A Cuda?z Amazon, 


37 


her father, was far from assuaging the fears 
of the unhappy Evangeline. She felt in- 
stinctively that the covert threat was meant 
for her father and herself, and that the “sword 
of Damocles” suspended o’er their heads 
might fall at any hour. 

At dinner, the sad faces gathered round 
the hospitable table, where ever before all 
had been happiness and good cheer, made the 
meal one never to be forgotten. Try as he 
would to enliven his host and hostess by his 
conversation, the efforts of Alvarez were in 
vain, and not a single smile from Evangeline 
did he win as a reward for all his unremitting 
exertions. 

Gravely and anxiously Cisneros watched 
the hands of the clock as they crept round the 
dial-plate, and when the soft cathedral-chimes 
struck the hour of seven, he arose, and motion- 
ing Alvarez to follow, departed for “the 
hills.” Silently they strode on and on, neither 
giving utterance to a single word. The moon 
was beginning to show faintly above the hills, 
and her pale light commingled with the soft 
twilight cast weird shadows all about them. 

Silence reigned, save when now and then a 
night-bird called to its mate, or a peculiarly 
low, clear whistle was answered by a slight, 


38 


A Cuban Amazon. 


sharp hiss, thus notifying the wily Cuban 
officers that they were under the surveillance 
of the patriots. Arriving at the foot of the 
hill, Cisneros, for the first time since leaving 
Esperanza, broke the silence, informing Al- 
varez that he must first submit to being blind- 
folded, and then consent to be led or to walk 
close beside his host, with a hand on each of 
the latter’s shoulders. 

Alvarez submitted to having his eyes 
bandaged, and they went forward a short dis- 
tance, when Cisneros walked up to what ap- 
peared to be a large cactus bush, and, stoop- 
ing down, grasped a heavy iron ring, hitherto 
concealed in the bush. Putting forth a mighty 
effort, he raised this, disclosing a narrow flight 
of steps, down which he led Alvarez, whose 
heart was beating quickly at this unexpected 
coup de fnain. These steps led down into 
what had long ago been the haunts and hiding- 
places of wild Spanish buccaneers, and to 
their labor were due these secret caves. Now 
they served to protect men whose aims were 
high and holy, not those of rapine and mur- 
der. They were known only to the natives, 
the Spaniards having never been informed of 
their location. Having reached the bottom 
of the stairway — which to Alvarez seemed to 


A Cuban Amazon. 


39 


be long enough to reach down into the very 
bowels of the earth — the bandage was re- 
moved. For an instant all was midnight 
blackness ! Suddenly tiny points of light 
danced before his aching eyes, then a bright 
light was flashed into his face, and he found 
himself gazing into the barrels of six rifles, 
leveled directly at him. 

“Quien va?” was the stern challenge. 

“Viva Cuba libre!” answered Cisneros, in- 
stantly. 

The rifles were lowered, and a cry of “Wel- 
come” resounded on all sides. Advancing, 
they entered a large, almost square, chamber, 
which was used as a meeting room ; and here 
were already gathered more than a hundred 
men ; some were seated at large tables, some 
standing in groups and conversing earnestly, 
while others passed from one knot of men to 
another, talking a while with each. 

Cisneros was conducted to the post of honor, 
and treated with the most profound respect. 
After introducing Alvarez, and explaining 
both his presence and his position fully, Cis- 
neros left him to the care of several patriots 
and withdrew with a few who seemed to be 
leaders and in authority to a small private 
compartment, where they remained closeted 


40 


A Cuban Amazon, 


in secret conference for some time. Mean- 
while the number of patriots in the outer 
cave had been considerably augmented, and 
there were now present two hundred and 
eight men, all fully armed. There was a gen- 
eral buzzing on all sides, and some excitement ; 
but, taken all in all, it was an exceedingly 
quiet gathering. But it was the quiet before 
the coming of the hurricane. 

Gazing at the men thus hastily brought to- 
gether, one could not but feel amazed that 
they were about to undertake the most im- 
portant step in their lives, were about to leave 
their homes and families, endure privations 
and sickness, and entrust their dearest posses- 
sions to the fortunes of war, in the fight for 
their country’s freedom. A sudden silence 
fell on all as Cisneros and his companions re- 
entered. Instantly all arose and took up po- 
sitions, showing conclusively that this was 
not the first time they had met together in 
this way. They divided into four companies, 
each company being under the control of four 
officers, Cisneros and his four companions 
taking up their respective positions. 

After the calling of the roll— each man re- 
sponding to his name with Cuba Libre ^"' — 
the troops were ordered to again seat them- 


A Cuban Amazon. 41 

selves around the tables. Cisneros was the 
only one who remained standing. His tall, 
fine figure — despite his age — the massive head 
crowned heavily with snowy hair, the dark 
eyes still •full of fire and glancing out from 
beneath the heavy brows, the long white 
beard that fell upon a breast wherein beat a 
heart whose every throb was a prayer for 
Cuba’s freedom — all this was a sight to stir 
the warm blood within their veins and make 
the men willing to follow blindly, trustingly 
where he should lead. 

The old man raised his hand, and instantly 
a hush fell upon the assembly. Every man 
present already knew that a dispatch of great 
importance had been received, and that its 
contents were about to be given to them. 

Cisneros spoke : 

“Friends, Neighbors, Countrymen: — 
I present to you Lieutenant Alvarez, who has 
brought a dispatch to me from General Gomez. 
This dispatch refers almost entirely to my- 
self and my family, and I do not wish you to 
be influenced unduly thereby in any decision 
you may be called upon to make to-night. 
However, I will explain more fully. 

“General Gomez informs me that he has re- 
ceived word that I am to be arrested and my 


42 


A Cuban Amazon. 


property confiscated, and he therefore urges 
me to join his forces, with all the men and 
arms that it is possible for me to collect. I 
have likewise learned, from painful experi- 
ence, that all is not well here in our beloved 
isle ; that, besides being imprisoned and our 
homes destroyed by the brutal Spaniard, the 
honor of our wives and daughters becomes a 
toy for their amusement ; and to trust to their 
mercy is like trusting to the mercy of tigers. 
Brothers ! I appeal to you ! What shall we 
do? I can not decide — the responsibility is 
too great. It has been suggested, and wisely, 
that a vote be taken as to whether we go or 
stay ; and let every one present feel that he is 
a man, and free to vote to remain if he feels 
in his heart that that would be wisest ; and 
let no man be deterred through fear, from vot- 
ing his honest sentiments. Each one is 
wholly free to cast his vote as he decides is 
best, the only restriction being that if the ma- 
jority vote to raise an army, the others must 
immediately retire, giving their most sacred 
pledge to reveal nothing to the enemy. Each 
commander will now take the vote of his 
squad with ‘yeas’ or ‘nays,’ as the case may 
be. Brothers, think well ere you decide!” 

A hearty cheer for Cisneros rang out as he 


A Cuban Amazon. 


43 


finished and seated himself to await the de- 
cision of his comrades. Slowly the moments 
passed while the vote was being taken. On 
the face of every man present there was a 
look of determination and unshrinking firm- 
ness that betokened how thorough was the 
study he had given the matter, and that his 
mind was fully made up, and that he was 
ready to abide by the decision. 

Then the four commanders came forward 
and announced, one after another, that with- 
out a single dissenting voice {nemine contra^ 
dicente) the vote had been “to arms” and 
drive the hated enemy of their race from out 
the land! Very deliberately Cisneros rose, 
and amid breathless silence announced that 
“war has been declared without a single con- 
trary voice!” He then advised that all save 
the guard and senior officers should retire qui- 
etly to their homes, and not return for five 
days. This was to be done that they might not 
arouse the suspicion of the Spaniards. The 
men secreted their rifles and ammunition, and 
after expressions of satisfaction regarding the 
night’s work dispersed for their homes ; but 
the officers adjourned to the small chamber, 
and were engrossed with the details of the 
proposed campaign and a plan to capture the 


44 


A Cuban Amazon. 


Spanish block house, arsenal, and stores, of 
which they would stand much, very much, in 
need. Alvarez was appointed on their staff 
until such time as they should join Gomez. 
It was past midnight and the moon was sail- 
ing majestically in the heavens, when, having 
finished their business, they departed for their 
homes, leaving the cave in charge of a faith-i 
ful guard. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


45 


CHAPTER IV. 

“Man’s inhumanity to man 
Makes countless thousands mourn.” 

— Robert Burns. 

“Woman is woman’s natural ally.” — Euripides. 

Two days dragged their monotonous lengths 
away, and during all that time the Casa Esper- 
anza was wrapped in almost funereal silence. 
The blinds were close drawn, ostensibly to 
keep out the hot sunshine, but in reality to 
prevent prying eyes guessing at what was 
going on behind them. 

The servants moved about noiselessly, the 
house dog lay sleeping in a darkened corner, 
and a parrot of brilliant plumage, which gen- 
erally chattered all day long, now sat upon 
its perch with ruffled feathers and in silence, 
save now and then when she would say softly, 
as if to herself, “Viva Cuba! Viva!” 

Everything and everybody seemed to be 
under a cloud, and depression and anxiety 
hung over both the Casa and its inmates. 
The very air seemed surcharged with mighty 
events, whose shade ws darkened and obscured 


46 


A Cuban Amazon. 


t*he sunshine of joy that had heretofore bright- 
ened the lives of these people, which, when 
all was said, held so little of that which we 
look upon as happiness. 

There was, in the actions of every member 
of the household, that which showed conclu- 
sively that something of very grave moment 
was about to transpire. The master was the 
only man who was busily engaged, and a 
single glance into his grave, stern fac^ showed 
that he realized how serious would be the re- 
sult of the events now shaping themselves. 
All day he was in the saddle, taking long 
rides into all parts of the little isle, coming 
home at early twilight, and then going out 
again on foot and not returning until long 
past midnight. In the fields the laborers 
were busy, and the unwonted number of these 
to be found either at the grindstone or seated 
on trunks of trees sharpening their machetes 
would have struck a shrewd observer at once 
as presaging something unusual. The care 
they evinced in getting a “sharp edge” on 
their knives, gave proof that they were pre- 
paring to do some hard cutting. 

As for Evangeline and Alvarez, little was 
seen of either. The girl kept her room under 
plea of illness, and the Lieutenant had been 


A Cuban A^nazon. 


47 


advised to keep out of sight and on no ac- 
count to leave the house. Thus the Casa, 
though a veritable hive of intrigue and plan- 
ning, gave no outward evidence of the secrets 
it held. Perez, the young Cuban lover, and 
cousin of Evangeline, kept quietly in the back- 
ground ; and tho’ his eyes ached for a sight of 
his love, yet believing it to be for the best, he 
remained away from Casa Esperanza, and 
consoled his impatience with sending notes to 
Evangeline, which were replied to by long, 
loving messages — letters, in truth, wherein the 
harassed and anxious girl poured out her 
heart to the man she adored. These missives 
were smuggled in and out through the agency 
of the faithful Therasita, who was fondly at- 
tached to her young mistress. 

The girl was but fifteen years of age, but 
had seen much trouble in her short life, and 
was thus made to appear much older. Her 
mother was an English woman, and had mar- 
ried a Spaniard who was at the time vice- 
consul in the town where she lived. The 
husband, later on, was offered an appointment 
in Cuba, accepted it, and with wife and child 
landed on the island. In less than three 
months he fell a victim to that terrible 
scourge of the island, yellow fever. Two 


48 


A Cuban A^nazon. 


months after his death the wife made the ac- 
quaintance of a Spanish marine engineer, and 
took the step downward which separated her 
forever from the circle in which she had hith- 
erto moved. And now the child, Therasita, 
began to be cumbersome and in the way, es- 
pecially as the mother had been appointed 
one of Weyler’s thirty-three female detectives, 
to keep watch on all English-speaking per- 
sons arriving in Havana. This work, coupled 
with the numerous intrigues which now en- 
gaged the mother’s attention, made her anx- 
ious to rid herself of the child. In some man- 
ner, not to be explained here, Therasita found 
her way into the family of Cisneros. Pitying 
the forlorn condition of the little creature, he 
had her educated to attend upon his daughter, 
Therasita was just at that age when a Cu- 
ban girl thinks of little else than love and 
conquests, and to be permitted to aid her mis- 
tress in her love affairs was sweet as honey to 
her. But the reward she received from the 
recipients of the messages, and particularly 
from Carlos Perez, might not have met with 
the approbation of her mistress. But Thera- 
sita was, despite the years of moral influence 
that had been bestowed upon her, her mother’s 
daughter, and took the kisses and the honeyed 


A Cuban Amazon. 


49 


words as freely from one as from another, and 
with absolutely no compunctions of conscience. 
Well, after all, heredity is the all-compelling 
influence in the life of a human creature ; 
stronger than religion, stronger than love, 
stronger than hate. 

Early on the morning of the third day an 
orderly rode up, and, with an insolence that 
was the reflection of his master, commanded 
Cisneros to appear before the Governor forth- 
with ! Every one knew that in times like 
these this order boded no good ; but there 
was no escape, and with a troop of cavalry 
for escort, Cisneros proceeded to the town 
in their charge. Upon arrival he was at once 
ushered into a private room, where he found 
Colonel Berrez seated with his adjutant. The 
door was scarcely closed behind the retreating 
orderly, when Berrez began : 

“ Senor, I have received private informa- 
tion that you are harboring an insurgcnte in 
your house at the present time, and, further- 
more, that you are in communication with the 
insurrectionist. General Gomez. Senor, what 
reply do you make to these charges.^ ” 

“That they are not true, Senor! It is my 
right, and I demand to know the name of my 
traducer ! ” 


4 


50 


A Cuban Amazon. 


Berrez twisted his mustache, and lifted his 
shoulders until they touched his ears. "‘De- 
mand, Senor? You are scarce in a position 
to demand anything. That is my business. 
Now, answer me these questions! Who is 
this man Alvarez.? What is his business, and 
why is he on the island? Is he a lover of 
your daughter? ” 

Cisneros’ replies came almost defiantly : 
“He is a wine-merchant, and has been sent 
to purchase fruits of me ! As for lovers, 
Senor,” (the old man’s voice was stern and 
cold), “my daughter is not yet old enough to 
think of such matters 1 ’ ’ 

The Spaniard laughed derisively: “Senor, 
you forget, in your dreams and your scheming, 
that the years are not standing still, and that 
the little child of yesterday is the marriageable 
young woman of to-day!” Then he stood 
silent for a few moments before he spoke 
again to Cisneros : 

“Old man, be warned in time! Have a 
care before it is too late ! Remember, if I 
find you a traitor I shall have no mercy on 
you! Neither you nor yours have treated me 
fairly, and I am in no mood for further trifling. 
Furthermore, attend well to this : I am about 
to write your daughter a letter ; be wise in 


A Cuban Amazon. 


51 

time and advise her to give me a satisfac- 
tory reply, both for your sake and for her 
own ! Remember ! Adios! Adjutant, show 
the Senor out ! ’ ’ 

Slowly Cisneros departed, and, re-mount- 
ing his horse, rode thoughtfully homeward. 
When he arrived he retired to his room, lock- 
ing the door carefully behind him. That 
evening Evangeline again sought her garden, 
which she had not had the courage to enter since 
the evening when Berrez had so insulted her 
pride. While she sat gazing thoughtfully 
into space there came the ring of hoofs upon 
the drive, and Carlos Perez dashed up, and, 
flinging the bridle to a servant, hastily joined 
her. 

“Why so sad, caritaV he said, when, 
after the first flush of pleasure had dyed throat 
and brow in a wave of vivid crimson, the color 
fled away, leaving her paler than before. 

“Alas, Carlos!” she answered, “the star 
of hope seems so dim that, at times, I think 
it has set forever from out my sky! Last 
night I dreamed, and in my dreams I saw 
your body stretched lifeless on the ground 
before me! Then I gazed shudderingly 
around to see your slayer, but could see noth- 
ing distinctly. All was blurred and misty! 


52 


A Cuban Amazon. 


And when I again sought the place where 
your body lay, it was gone, and in its place 
was the passionate face of Berrez ; and, with 
a cry of agony, I awoke, bathed in a cold 
perspiration from head to foot.” 

Even as she spoke she shivered, and gazed 
about her as if fearful of seeing the same hor- 
rible sight. 

“Evangeline, darling,” answered Carlos, 
striving to soothe the girl into calmness, “ let 
us trust our love, and shudder not at dreams 
until time shall prove them true.” 

“But, Carlos,” murmured the girl, “it is 
my love that makes me fearful, that makes 
me shudder.” 

“It should not be so, Evangeline, mine 
owm,” answered Perez. “ Love should be all 
brightness, all joy. Love should be to our 
lives what the sun is to the world ; what light 
is to the flower ! Let us then be happy in our 
love, for there are many who live their lives 
and do not And it.” 

So they talked on and on, and, despite their 
efforts to the contrary, they grew sad; and 
that tender sadness, that is not yet pain, filled 
their hearts and made their eyes grow moist 
with unshed tears. They spoke of the parting 
that might come, and it almost seemed as if 


A Cuban Amazon. 


53 


an intuition of the fate that was so soon to 
blast both their young lives came to them that 
night as they sat, hand clasped in hand, and 
eyes gazing fondly into eyes that spake 
again.” 

Presently a silence fell between them ; a 
silence that, between those who love, or whose 
minds and hearts are in perfect sympathetic 
accord, is so much more expressive than any 
words can be. As they sat thus, an orderly 
in Spanish uniform came forward, spurs click- 
ing, sword clanking (the leather of boots and 
belt creaking, and all these trappings seeming, 
in the ears of the two startled young beings 
seated, hand in hand, to be offensively noisy) 
as though saying: “ ’Tis I who am coming; 
listen and obey.” The orderly saluted, and 
handed Evangeline a letter. She broke the 
seal with fingers that trembled, despite her 
efforts to the contrary. This was the letter : 

Senorita : For the last time, I demand an answer 
to my proposal. One word will suffice, ‘ Yes,’ or ‘ No.’ 
Upon your reply hangs the fate of your father and 
yourself. Think well, Senorita, before replying. The 
orderly will wait, and bring me your answer. Berrez. 

Evangeline handed the note to Perez, say- 
ing, only : “Now, indeed, sets the star of 
Hope! ” 


54 


A Cuban Amazon. 


Without waiting for a single word from 
him she turned to the orderly and said : ‘ ‘ Your 
master demands an answer. Go back and tell 
him that my reply is, No! and will be, so long 
as God’s mercy lives, and Evangeline Cisne- 
ros keeps her senses ! I bid you adieu , Senor . ’ ’ 

The Spaniard saluted and retired, and 
Evangeline turned to Perez, no longer able 
to restrain her bitter tears. “Do you not 
see,” she sobbed ; “ Carlos, do you not seethe 
danger that surrounds us, and which is creep- 
ing closer and closer with each succeeding 
day? Alas! all hope is gone now! Carlos, 
mio adorato, you will be next, I know it ! I 
know it !” and she threw herself unrestrainedly 
into her lover’s arms and sobbed and sobbed, 
as though the floodgates of her sorrow had 
opened, and through them were rushing the 
waters of bitterness. 

The young man strove with every means at 
his command to soothe her, but to no purpose. 
She still sobbed hysterically, saying over and 
over again: “Alas! alas! everything is de- 
manded ! Everything is demanded ! ’ ’ 

Calmness came after a time, and she begged 
his indulgence and forgiveness for “making a 
scene,” as she called it; for, as she truthfully 
said : “ I am not given to weeping for every 


A Cuban Amazon, 


55 


trifle, and I feel as if I will never again be 
able to weep as I have done to-night. It has 
done me good, Carlos. I am stronger, better 
able to meet my fate, which is coming towards 
me with giant strides. Do you not realize it, 
too, mio Caro?'*'* 

“Yes, love, and it becomes my duty to 
ward it off from you.” 

“ Nay, Carlos. Who can escape fate? Not 
I! Not I!” 

“My love, we must join the patriot army 
at once,, since the place is no longer safe for 
us a single day more. Good-night, dearest! 
Good-night ! All holy angels have you in their 
keeping, Evangeline. I go to summon the 
friends of Cuba ! Adios ! I hold you ever 
in my heart.” 

Standing where he left her, the heavy- 
hearted girl listened to the fall of his horse’s 
hoofs as the sound grew fainter and fainter in 
the distance. Thus she stood after she could 
no longer either see or hear him, and the 
shadows of the night had closed around him. 
Then, sighing heavily, she entered the house 
and sought her father. 

Half an hour had scarce elapsed when there 
sounded the tramp of many feet on the ver- 
anda, followed by a loud command to “Open 


56 


A Cuban Afnazon. 


the door!” Roused by the noise, Cisneros 
came into the hall, followed by Evangeline. 
The trembling servant stood parleying with 
the leader of the troop, but yet faithfully re- 
fusing to obey the command to “ Open!” 

“Nay, my faithful Tomaso, to what pur- 
pose! Open the door, and fear nothing^ 

At his master’s word Tomaso instantly 
obeyed, and a Spanish troop of ten men filed 
into the hall. Placing his hand upon Cis- 
nero’s shoulder, the leader said : “ Senor, my 
orders are to arrest you as a suspect and a 
rebel ; and this I do, in the name of His Ma- 
jesty Alphonso XIII., King of Spain!” 

With a cry of sharp anguish Evangeline 
flung her arms about her father’s neck, cry- 
ing : “ Father ! father ! I can save you ! Shall 
I answer Berrez, ‘Yes.? ’ ” 

The old man gazed at her sternly, his dark 
eyes flashing. Then taking the dear face in 
his hands, he kissed it lovingly again and 
again, as he replied with emotion : 

“Never, my daughter! Remember that 
you are a Cisneros and a Cuban. They can 
die, but they never cry ‘Quarter!’ Adios, 
my child, until we meet again !” 


A Cuban Amazon. 


57 


CHAPTER V. 

“ The offender never pardons.” — Herbert. 

The sorrow of death compasseth me.” 

— Old Testament. 

All night long the Spanish sentries guarded 
the house, which was declared and posted in- 
co77tmunicado . In the morning, when Evan- 
geline descended to the lower floor, she found 
that no one was allowed either to enter or to 
leave the house under any pretext whatsoever. 
Summoning the officer in charge, she de- 
manded to know by whose authority she was 
refused permission to leave, and added : “This 
is an unwarranted insult and indignity! ” 

“Pardon, Senorita ; I am acting only on 
the orders I have received from Colonel 
Berrez. It gives me no pleasure to treat you 
thus, but I am a soldier and must obey.” 

“ I have no wish to cause you any trouble, 
Senor,” she replied, “ and if you will have a 
note delivered promptly to Colonel Berrez, I 
shall ask nothing else at your hands.” 

This the officer promised, and she withdrew 
to write to Berrez, requesting that he grant 


58 


A Cuban Amazon, 


her an immediate audience ; and an orderly 
rode away at once to deliver her message. 
Feeling that the game was entirely in his own 
hands now, Berrez took his own time in an- 
swering; for none knew better than- he what 
torture every moment of uncertainty caused 
the girl, and it gave him a fiendish delight to 
humble her proud spirit and bring her to her 
knees before him, as he had sworn that he 
would do. 

It was almost noon when the orderly re- 
turned, bringing a terse reply from the Gov- 
ernor to the effect that her request was grant- 
ed, and that he would see her at once. There- 
fore Evangeline set out immediately for head- 
quarters, guarded and escorted by the orderly. 
When she entered the audience-chamber, she 
found Berrez alone, seated at his desk, writing. 
He arose and saluted her, saying, sarcastically : 

“To what fortune of war, Senorita, may I 
attribute the honor and pleasure of this visit?” 

“ Colonel Berrez ! why the mockery of ask- 
ing? ” said Evangeline, sadly. “ It is, as you 
know — alas ! too well — to beg for the life and 
liberty of my dear father, whom you have 
dragged from his home to prison.” 

“ Senorita, what would you have me to do? 
Would you have me false to my duty and false 


A Cuban Amazon. 


59 


to Spain by setting at liberty one of her great- 
est enemies? He is a rebel, and to such I can 
but do my duty.” 

Evangeline smiled bitterly, as she replied : 
“Ah, truly, Senor, he is indeed a faithful 
and vigilant officer who finds the father a 
rebel only when the daughter has refused to 
become his mistress ! ’ ’ 

Berrez also smiled, but it was a smile of 
vindictiveness and full of hate, as he an- 
swered : “ Well, we shall see ! We shall see ! 
But, girl, I warn you ! Have a care how you 
speak ! Put a guard on that tongue of yours ! 
Such words are out of place on suppliant lips ! 
Remember that ! ’ ’ 

Evangeline marked the vengeful smile that 
curved the pitiless mouth, and her heart sank, 
but she would not give up entirely. Despite 
the feeling of despair that seemed crushing 
her beneath its remorseless hand, she yet 
fanned the tiny ember of hope into a faint 
glow, and flinging herself upon her knees in 
one last desperate effort and entreaty she 
prayed : 

“ Mercy, Senor ! Have mercy! 'S^oxx know 
he is no rebel! Set him at liberty! ” 

Berrez looked at her — that same faint sneer 
still finding a resting-place on his lips — his 


6o 


A Ctiban Amazon. 


eyes, full of merciless desire, fixed upon the 
kneeling girl. 

“ Have some pity, Senor ! He never harmed 
you nor yours in any way. I am alone in the 
world save for him. Have mercy ! Pity me, 
I implore ! ” 

‘ ‘ Pity you ! Have mercy ! ’ ’ Berrez repeat- 
ed mockingly. “ What pity had you when 
offered you the greatest honor a man can offer 
any woman? Where was^(? 2 ^r pity, Senorita? ” 

“ Senor, look upon me ! You swore to bring 
me to my knees before you! You have done 
so. Is not that enough? Is not that a suffi- 
cient revenge? ” 

“ Ah, no, Senorita! There is but one con- 
dition on which I will save your father ! That 
one condition you already know ! Choose for 
yourself!” 

“ Senor! in Christ’s name forego your ven- 
geance. I will kiss your feet if you will spare 
my father’s life and leave me my honor. In 
Christ’s name I beg, I implore you, Senor! 
Hear me ! Do not turn away from me ! In 
the name of the mother that bore you, Senor, 
Senor! have pity upon me! ” 

The white, haggard face was lifted to his ; 
the agony of death written upon it. But his 
wolf’s nature yet longed for the lamb ! Not a 


A Cuban Amazon. 


6i 


single flash of pity changed the diabolical 
purpose of his fiendish soul ! 

“You have heard me, Senorita ! Why waste 
your time in useless pleading? ” 

If it were possible to grow more pallid, she 
did so when she heard his words. 

“Senor! is there no other way? Oh, be 
pitiful! ” 

“None! ” 

Slowly she rose from her knees. Her face 
had grown suddenly worn and old. The girl- 
ish youthfulness had died out of it. 

“Then, Senor, I pray you” — the words 
came with an effort — “I pray you, give me 
time to think. It is an awful thing — for — a — 
woman — to — barter honor, even to save a — 
father’s life ! ” 

Berrez stroked his mustache : “ True ! But 
remember, Senorita, it is honor against honor ! 
I break my faith to Spain when I release your 
father! ” 

“ But, Senor, my father is not a rebel! ” 
Berrez answered quickly : “Senorita, if you 
speak truly, who then is Lieutenant Alvarez ? ” 
A chill ran through all her limbs, and despite 
all her efforts to conquer it there came again 
the old feeling of fear and distrust, the same 
suspicions of Gomez’s messenger. “But,” 


62 


A Cuban Amazon. 


she went on, as though she had not heard the 
question, “ Senor, grant me time; one week 
is all I ask, and on the seventh day from this 
you shall have my answer.” 

“ Very well. ’Tis more grace than you de- 
serve, more mercy than you showed me, Sen- 
orita ; but I grant you the seven days’ time 
you ask. Your father shall be released con- 
ditionally, pending further evidence ; but I 
shall warn him, as I warn you, that he must 
not attempt to leave the island. If he does — 
he will be shot. I give you warning.” 

“For even so much mercy I thank you, 
Senor, and believe me I will not forget it.” 

The Colonel did not reply to the sarcasm. 
Perhaps he had no reply ready ; perhaps even 
his sin-steeped conscience, or that unknown 
something which in men of his caliber passes 
muster under that name, recognized the jus- 
tice of the sarcasm, and forbore to torture 
further. Pressing the bell on the desk beside 
him, he hastily dashed down a few lines on a 
sheet of paper and handed it to the orderly 
who appeared in answer to the summons, say- 
ing as he did so : “ Take this to Captain Za- 

turcha and report forthwith.” 

The man bowed and retired. Fifteen min- 
utes elapsed, and not a word was spoken. 


A Cuban Amazon, 


63 


not a look exchanged between the two. Once 
Berrez would have blessed the good fortune 
that gave him a few moments alone with the 
girl he so fondly desired. But all that was 
changed now, and Evangeline remembered 
bitterly that the fortunes of war had made 
her the suppliant, and that the man who sat 
in such seeming indifference to her presence 
now, only a few short days ago sued on 
bended knee for the honor of her hand. 

While she sat thus, a prey to bitterness, the 
tramp of armed men was heard approaching. 
Then the door opened, and Captain Zaturcha 
entered with Cisneros. The old man was 
manacled, and the clanking of the chains as 
he moved struck terror to the heart of his 
daughter. 

“Release the prisoner,” ordered Berrez. 
The officer obeyed, and retired to the farther 
end of the chamber. 

Berrez then arose, and, facing Cisneros, 
said : “■ Senor, at the solicitation of your 

daughter, upon her assurance of your loyalty, 
and incidentally for a lack of sufficient evi- 
dence against you, you are released, on the 
conditions which I have already explained to 
the Senorita, and to which she has subscribed.” 

Cisneros turned to Evangeline and gazed at 


64 


A Cuban Amazon, 


her searchingly. Then, as a horrible thought 
crossed his brain, he gasped : “ Oh, most 

merciful God! Evangeline — you are not ” 

The girl instantly laid her hand lightly 
across his mouth, giving him at the same time 
a significant glance which at once lulled his 
suspicion. Silently she took his arm, and 
without a word they left the presence of this 
human fiend and drove home to Casa Es- 
peranza. 


A Cuban Amazon, 


65 


CHAPTER VI. 

“ He that outlives this day and comes safe home, 
y Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named.” 

— Shakespeare, 

” The dreadful note of preparation.” — Ibid. 

That night the Cubans were hurriedly as- 
sembled in the cave, and arrangements for ex- 
traordinary measures were completed. Their 
departure from the island was fully agreed 
upon, and the third day therefrom fixed upon 
for leaving, as upon that day a schooner from 
the mainland was expected to arrive. 

This time there was no cheering, although 
the feeling was even more intense among the 
Cubans than it had ever been. But the men 
realized fully now the peril into which they 
were plunging — not only for themselves, but 
for all who were dear to them — and their 
faces were resolute and hard, and their eyes 
darkened ominously when their wrongs were 
mentioned. 

Each day brought to light some new Span- 
ish atrocity, some Spanish cruelty. To-day 
it was the beating of an unarmed Cuban by 

5 


66 


A Cuban Amazon, 


some officer for an alleged insult ; to-morrow 
it would be the arresting and throwing into 
prison, in irons, of some unfortunate accused 
of being disloyal to the mother— oh, the 
mockery of the word !— country, and so the 
list lengthened. Actively, but very stealth- 
ily, the preparations went on. Arms and 
stores were collected on all sides as rapidly as 
could be done without attracting attention or 
exciting suspicion from the vigilant Spaniards. 

During all this time Evangeline remained 
within doors, never leaving the casa, and 
seeing no one save her father, Carlos Perez, 
and her maid Therasita. Her eyes had a wild, 
haggard earnestness, and anxiety had deep- 
ened the heavy circles under them, while a 
vivid flush on either cheek, almost hectic in 
its intensity, told how extreme was her emo- 
tion, how intense the excitement under which 
she labored. But the great somber eyes spar- 
kled brilliantly, and her beauty was some- 
thing awful in its splendid fullness. Despite 
the infirmity under which he labored, Cis- 
neros seemed indefatigable ; and although sup- 
posed to be under strict surveillance on the 
part of the minions of Berrez, he yet had not 
the slightest difficulty in eluding their vigi- 
lance whenever he so desired. Despite her 


A Cuban Amazon. 


67 


efforts to suppress it, the old doubt and dis- 
trust of Alvarez would arise, and, like Ban- 
quo’s ghost, “it would not down.” Carlos 
Perez was ever busy; never too wearied to 
ride miles to deliver an important message, 
and doing such things as made him a home 
very close to the hearts of his countrymen. 

Sunday came, the day before the intended 
flight. It was the feast of St. Joseph, and 
not even the coming crisis which was to de- 
cide the lives and fate of so many, hindered in 
any way the celebration of that holy day. 
Indeed, the gaiety and merriment seemed all 
the greater, from the fact that it drove from 
their minds, temporarily at least, the peril 
that hovered over them like some giant vam- 
pire waiting but the opportunity to fasten 
upon them and drink their life-blood. All 
save Cisneros, his daughter, and her maid, 
joined in the hilarity and jocosity of the 
“ fest-dance ” in the large storehouse at the 
corner of Esperanza plantation. 

The fun had been fast and furious, the 
dances particularly wild and free, and “ bol- 
ero ” and “fandango” and then “ alleman- 
de ” had each in turn had its devotees. 
Evangeline and her father sat together in 
the dimly-lighted sitting-room of the casa, 


68 


A Cuban Amazon. 


busy with some detail of the coming event, 
and at intervals a strain of music louder than 
the rest would be carried to their ears. Cis- 
neros shook his head gravely at one of these 
times, saying; “There is a strange thing 
about us. Even the music of the dance, that 
should be all joy, all happiness and abandon, 
is tragedy, and all the more affecting in that 
it is masked.” 

Evangeline listened, and a feeling almost 
of envy crept over her at the sound of this 
seeming gaiety and mirth. “Father,” she 
said, “can it be true that these people fling 
thought to the winds, and, forgetting all 
else, enjoy themselves?” There was bitter- 
ness in the tired young voice. 

“ Nay, not so, Evangeline,” replied the 
father. “No, it is but the madness of in- 
toxication, wherein they seek to drown their 
sorrows ; but there is always the awakening, 
and when that comes it is the more terrible 
because of the contrast with the vision that 
has gone before.” 

Then they sat silently engrossed in thought, 
until at length Evangeline turned toward the 
door and listened intently. “Father,” she 
said, “ I heard a step ! There is some one on 
the veranda!” She started to her feet and 


A 'Cuban Amazon > 69 

toward the door, and opened it just as a Span- 
ish soldier knocked. Saluting, he said to Cis- 
neros : “ Senor, his Excellency the Governor, 
Colonel Berrez, sends greeting and desires an 
immediate conference with you concerning 
important dispatches which have but now ar- 
rived from Havana.” 

Cisneros, although suspecting treachery, 
could but obey. He was still so wholly in 
the Governor’s power that he dare not diso- 
bey any orders coming from Berrez. Taking 
his daughter in his arms, and gazing down 
into the brown eyes dark with fate, he said : 
“There is something, I know not what, be- 
hind all this ; but whatever it is, Evangeline, 
my child, defend your honor with your life. 
Adios, my love! May all good angels attend 
you! ” She bowed her head in silence. He 
kissed her again and yet again, and signify- 
ing to the orderly his readiness to proceed, 
left the hacienda with the soldier. 

It was already well on into the evening, 
and, exhausted by the constant strain of what 
she had undergone in the past few days, 
Evangeline prepared to retire. Closing and 
barring the shutters and lattices, she put out 
all lights save the one in the hall. This 
she left burning, that her father upon his re- 


70 


A Cuban Amazon, 


turn should find no difficulty in reaching his 
own room. The night was balmy ; the per- 
fume of the magnolia hung heavy in the air ; 
the damp, earthy smell that has in it a some- 
thing so fascinating to our senses stole up to 
her as she lingered a moment at her window. 
She could hear the measured rhythm of danc- 
ing feet, and now and then the shrill nervous 
laughter of some one of the dancers. 

In between these sounds, like an accom- 
paniment to the music, came the soft swish 
and lap of the sea on the sheltered side of the 
isle, while in the north shone a great silver 
star pointing toward that other land v/hose 
motto is “ Liberty,” but whose children con- 
tend, and ever fruitlessly, against the tyranny 
of the moneyed classes. On the south the 
restless seas beat upon the rocks with a 
sound like the lower notes of a great organ. 
With a sigh the girl turned her eyes toward 
the mainland as she said : 

“ How long, O Lord! how long, shall Thy 
people suffer and find Thee deaf to their cries } 
When shall our beloved Cuba be free from the 
oppressive yoke of Spain — a yoke hateful as it 
is oppressive, and cruel as it is vile? Help 
us, O Lord! To Thee we cry! ” Then she 
closed the shutters and began to unwind the 


A Cuban Amazon, 71 

great wealth of jetty braids bound round the 
small head. 

Most Cuban women have beautiful suits of 
hair, but that of Evangeline Cisneros was ex- 
ceptionally so, even among a nation of women 
famed for the luxuriance of their tresses. 
When unbound it fell around her to her 
knees, shining like a raven’s wing, in con- 
trast to her white robe. 

“I wonder what keeps Therasita? She is 
later than usual.” 

A sound startled her. The door opened 
slowly, and without turning Evangeline said : 

“Come, Therasita! You are late! I’ve 
been waiting some time to have you brush my 
hair. Come!” 

Then, as there came no reply to her words, 
she turned quickly and beheld Berrez stand- 
ing in the doorway gazing at her with lasciv- 
ious eyes and a countenance distorted with 
passion and inflamed with wine ! Thor- 
oughly frightened, the girl uttered a piercing 
cry ; but the house was empty, and there was 
no one near to hear ! None near to save ! 


72 


A Cuban Amazon. 


CHAPTER VI. 

“ All hell shall stir for this ! ” — Shakespeare. 

“ A deed without a name ! ” — Ibid. \ 

“ One poor lone woman ! ” — Ibid. 

Berrez entered, and locking the door be- 
hind him, carefully tried the fastenings, while 
Evangeline, thoroughly frightened, cowered 
beside her dressing-table, watching with wild 
eyes every movement of the man she both 
feared and loathed. One quick glance showed 
her that she could not reach the window, the 
distance being too great to cover before Ber- 
rez could reach her side and stop her. 

He noted the look, and said : “ No escape 

that way, my beauty! ” 

She turned toward her tormentor, but no 
words had as yet passed her white lips. Ber- 
rez’ covetous eyes traveled over the charms of 
the young girl standing so defenselessly be- 
fore him, noting and marking them for his 
own delectation. At length confronting her 
he said, with a tipsy leer that he strove to 
make dignified and impressive, but that he 
only succeeded in making lascivious : 


A Cuban Amazon. 


73 


“At last, Senorita, the time has come for 
my answer ! ” 

Striving to widen the distance between 
them and to gain time in the hope that help 
would come, she faltered: “ Senor, remem- 
ber your promise. When the day comes, you 
shall have your answer. You promised to 
give me a week’s time, and the week is not 
nearly ended. Wait, Senor, until it is, and 
on the very day agreed I will give you your 
reply.” 

Her lips were quivering despite her efforts 
to be brave, and her heart was pounding 
against her side as though it would burst its 
prison walls and escape. If she had hoped to 
bring Juan Berrez to listen to honor or reason, 
it was only for an instant. His first words 
proved how futile had been the attempt : 

“ No ! ” he shouted, grasping her arm, “ I 
will not wait an hour longer! I want my 
answer now, and, by the Son of God, I mean 
to have it ! ” 

In her terror Evangeline did not feel the 
pain of his grasp, but she shook off his hand, 
and breaking away, turned upon him her fine 
eyes, carrying in their dark depths an appeal 
that would have touched a heart of stone, but 
not the heart of a Spanish soldier. She real- 


74 


A Cuban Amazon. 


ized that her one chance of salvation from a 
fate far worse than death lay in being able to 
keep him at bay until help should come. Even 
now Therasita should be here ; any moment 
might bring the desired help. Oh, Mother of 
Sorrows ! if only some one would come ! 

The thought came to her that perhaps she 
might rouse some feeling of honor even in one 
so “rooted in dishonor” as Berrez. In that 
way she could at least gain time ; and be- 
sides — merciful God ! the look in his face ap- 
palled her. 

Once more he started toward her. 

“ Senor! In God’s name what awful thing 
would you do! Oh, for Christ’s sake have 
mercy! I appeal to you by the memory of 
your mother! Wait until the time expires 
which you swore on your honor to grant me, 
and then, Senor, I swear to give you my an- 
swer. Is this a soldier’s honor — violating the 
home of a soldier, and striving to violate the 
honor of a soldier’ s daughter ^ Senor, think ! ’ ’ 

The agony and mortal terror in her voice 
seemed to rouse all the fiendishness in his na- 
ture. “Think! I have done nothing else 
ever since that night in yonder garden, when 
you spurned the love of Juan Berrez ; and the 
more I think, the more I am determined to 


A Cuban Amazon. 


75 


possess you, my proud beauty, whether you 
are willing or unwilling, and I mean to begin 
my revenge now ! ’ ’ 

For the third time Berrez steadied himself 
and started toward Evangeline ; but even as 
he put forth his hand to grasp her she deftly 
eluded him and stepped away, leaving a table 
between them. Berrez stumbled and would 
have fallen, but saved himself by catching the 
back of a chair and regained his feet. But he 
was wild with anger, and the room rang with 
his drunken oaths. In his frenzy he half drew 
his machete from its sheath, as if to kill her. 

Evangeline noted the movement and cried 
out: “Ah, Senor! Senor! Be merciful to 
me, and bury your machete to the hilt in my 
bosom, and I will bless you with my last 
breath ! ’ ’ 

Berrez laughed contemptuously. “You will 
find that her kisses bite, and that her tongue 
is too sharp for love-making. Better my 
.kisses, Senorita.” 

The flaming contemptuous eyes with' which 
she covered him stopped further utterance, 
for the moment at least. Just then, some- 
where within hearing, a door opened and 
closed, and Evangeline took heart again. At 
last, at last, oh, thank God! Therasita was 
coming ! She was saved ! saved ! 


76 


A Cuban Afnazon. 


But Berrez too had heard the sound, and it 
added fuel to the flame of his cursed determi- 
nation. With an oath he sprang at Evan- 
geline, and, seizing her arm with drunken 
fury, clutched it so tightly in his brutal grasp 
that she screamed with pain. As her cry rang 
out, Therasita — for it was indeed she — hurried 
to her mistress’ room, only to find the door^ 
locked! But the voice of Berrez could be 
heard in tipsy fury yelling out the vilest oaths, 
the most horrible threats. High above all the 
unholy clamor rang the wildly affrighted voice 
of Evangeline, crying : 

“ Therasita ! For God’s sake run for help ! 
Call Carlos, Tomaso — any one, anyone! Oh, 
my God! Quick — quick, Therasita! Oh, 
God ! Oh, God ! Pity ! pity ! Mercy, Senor ! 
For the love of the Redeemer, have mercy!” 
Then came a wild shriek, followed by a heavy 
fall — and silence. 

The thoroughly frightened maid, recogniz- 
ing the voice of Berrez, needed no second 
bidding to lend wings to her feet as she 
rushed forth crying for help. The father, 
too, suspicious at finding Berrez absent after 
having summoned him to appear before him 
at once, returned home as quickly as possible, 
terror — of he scarce knew what — urging him 


u4 Cuhan Amazon, 


77 


to greater haste. Through the lattice of his 
daughter’s window he heard the struggle, the 
overturning of furniture in her wild efforts 
to keep this modern Tarquin at bay, heard her 
screams and wild appeal for mercy, and then 
the heavy fall, followed by ominous silence. 

He reached the door of Evangeline’s room, 
only to find it fast locked and himself unable 
to force the bolt. Calling to her words of 
encouragement, he rushed from the Casa cry- 
ing for help. As he fled down the steps he 
met the dancers in festal array surging to- 
ward him, headed by the weeping Therasita 
and Carlos Perez. 

Cisneros uttered a cry of thankfulness, and, 
joining Perez, hurriedly led the way to his 
daughter’s room. The blows of the infuriated 
Cubans soon battered down the door, and as 
it fell they saw before them the detested Ber- 
rez, his naked machete gleaming in his hand, 
while behind him on the floor lay Evangeline 
Cisneros in merciful unconsciousness. 


78 


A Cuba7i Amazon, 


CHAPTER VII. 

“An arrant traitor, as any in the universal world.’' 

— Shakespeare. 

“ O villain, villain, smiling damned villain! ” — Ibid. 

One glance told the ghastly, the horrible 
story, and with a yell of rage Carlos Perez 
leaped across the threshold and at the throat 
of the Governor. Blind with wrath and 
crazed with misery, Carlos struck at the Gov- 
ernor with his machete ; but the stroke went 
wide of the mark, and Perez very nearly lost 
his equilibrium. 

Like a flash the naked steel blade of Berrez 
descended upon him, and he fell mortally 
wounded by the one who had robbed his be- 
trothed of that which is dearer far than that 
labored breath which wise men call life. 

The next instant, while yet his machete 
gleamed in the air, the infuriated Cubans with 
a snarl of rage had seized and disarmed Ber- 
rez and flung him upon the ground, where he 
lay stunned and helpless. Willing hands soon 
found ropes with which to bind him, and 
hastily improvising a gag, which was forced 


A Cuban Amazon. 


79 


into his mouth in no gentle manner, he was, 
despite his attempts at resistance, placed in a 
chair and bound with his arms behind ; and 
thus he sat, the picture of impotent rage and 
helplessness. 

A council was hastily called, and it was re- 
solved to remove everything possible to the 
hills, and afterwards to fire the house and all 
buildings on the plantation, leaving the demon 
who had wrought such frightful desolation 
and misery to send forth his guilty soul into 
the great unknown upon the wings of flame 
that were so soon to enwrap Casa Esperanza. 
No one present was so vindictive in speech 
and none more anxious for vengeance than 
the Cuban, Lieutenant Alvarez ; and he won 
from his countrymen such expressions of 
hearty good will that when he volunteered 
to be the one to fire the house his offer was 
unanimously accepted. 

Meanwhile the unfortunate Evangeline had 
been restored to consciousness, and in com- 
pany with her maid hurried from the room 
that now held such horrors for her. 

The corpse of Carlos Perez was gently lifted 
by his comrades and reverently laid in a has- 
tily-made grave in the garden, beneath the 
very palm tree where he and Evangeline had 


8o 


A Cuban Amazon, 


plighted their troth. Few tears were shed, 
although the gallant young fellow was a gen- 
eral favorite; but many were the oaths of 
vengeance sworn over his grave, and many 
and deep were the curses on Spain and her 
minions, and on that arch fiend and reprobate 
soldier, Juan Berrez. 

Slowly and sadly they turned away,, for 
there was work before them, and the night 
hours were speeding ; ere the east was red- 
dened by the first blush of Aurora as she rose 
from her couch of gray and gold, with its cur- 
tains of rosy pink, to greet the god of day, 
they must be far away, leaving behind them 
all earthly possessions save what could be car- 
ried with them as they climbed the hills or 
dived into the valleys on their march toward 
the cave of safety. 

All preparations being made, silently but 
swiftly the band of patriots made their way 
to the hills, where lay their only safeguard. 
Alvarez was left in charge, with orders to fire 
the house as soon as he saw a rocket sent up, 
and then to make his way to the general ren- 
dezvous. Alas ! little did that gallant band 
of patriots know of the black-hearted traitor 
within their ranks! If they had, he would 
have gone forward to pave the way to tor- 
ment for the soul of Berrez. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


8i 


Scarcely had the fugitives reached the bor- 
ders of the plantation than Alvarez hastened 
to the room where Berrez was confined, and 
hastily removing the gag from the prisoner’s 
mouth, said : “ Senor, I am here to save you ! 
but understand me well ; it is conditionally, 
and / am to dictate the conditions. I require 
money! You must provide it ! You require 
revenge! Very well, I will assist you there- 
to, but only in my own way. I must do all 
these things in my own way, peculiar as it 
may look to you, and you must agree, or — I 
leave you to your fate when I fire this build- 
ing! Senor, what say you to my terms? ” 
Berrez smiled bitterly. “ ‘One needs must, 
when the devil drives.’ But what proof have 
I that you will keep faith with me? Having 
been a traitor to Cisneros, why not to me? ” 
“That, Senor Berrez, you must risk; but 
surely that risk is not so great as the one of 
getting out of a burning building alive when 
one is fettered as you are.” 

Berrez was thoughtful for a moment. 

“ Come, Senor, time presses. Your an- 
swer ! ” 

“ Lieutenant Alvarez, I am in your power; 
release me, and you shall have all that you re- 
quire. Help me to avenge the insults I have 
6 


82 


A Cuban Amazon. 


received, help me to gain possession of that girl, 
and half my fortune is yours. I want revenge, 
and I swear to have it. I’ll make her life 
such that the vilest creature in the streets 
shall pass her by in disdain. I do not want 
her for my wife, not even for my own in any 
way. No! but to hand her over to the ten- 
der mercies of my soldiers — and then we shall 
see how the proud Evangeline Cisneros will 
feel when she finds herself incarcerated in the 
Carcel Real de Renardios! ” 

The words and manner of the wretch were 
so full of venom and wantonness and cruelty 
that even Alvarez felt in his heart pity for the 
poor girl whose only crime was hatred of a 
man so vile that all her maidenly purity shrank 
in loathing from him. 

“Very well, Senor! ” and Alvarez cut the 
cords that bound Berrez. “You are free! ” 

“ Senor, I thank you profoundly ; and now 
for your plans.” 

Alvarez explained to him all the details as 
he had received them from the patriots, and 
it was agreed that the house should be fired 
and Alvarez join the patriots as agreed. It 
was further understood and pledged that when 
a convenient opportunity offered Alvarez was 
to betray the entire band into the hands of the 


A Cuban Amazon. 


83 

Spaniards. Having arranged their plans, they 
repaired to the veranda to await the signal 
from the hills. Half an hour passed, and then 
a rocket shot into the air, leaving its flaming 
trail behind. 

Alvarez laughed aloud as he said to the 
Governor: “ That, Senor, is the signal for 
-your ‘cremation.’” 

Berrez smiled, but the smile was not a 
mirthful one. It was such as we see upon 
the face of a man who all his life has longed 
for something unattainable, something he 
could never hope for, but has now, to his 
satisfaction and to the gratiflcation of his re- 
venge, safe in his hands. 

Everything had been made ready by the 
Cubans before they left, for firing the build- 
ing. All that remained for Alvarez was to 
apply the match. After this had been done, 
but a short time elapsed before the entire 
house was a seething mass of flames. A few 
moments later and the inflammable under- 
growth and the trees of the plantation became 
ignited, and when morning dawned beautiful 
“ Esperanza ” was but a somber ruin — a me- 
mento of the diabolical wickedness of one 
man. 

Alvarez and Berrez parted company as soon 


84 


A Cuban Amazon. 


as the fire was started — the one to make the 
best of his way to the hills, the other to his 
quarters, there to gloat over the ruin and mis- 
ery he had caused, and to dream of the re- 
venge he was certain would be his. The fire 
had attracted the whole of the Spanish troops, 
who hastened to the spot but made no attempt 
to save anything, because, being the property 
of a Cuban and a Cisneros, it was considered 
good policy to permit it to burn. However, 
it was a matter of surprise, which showed it- 
self on every face, that not a single Cuban 
was visible. Fearing that something was 
wrong, the troops rushed back to their quar- 
ters and an orderly was sent to inform the 
Governor. 

Berrez appeared after a few moments, pre^ 
tending to have been just awakened from 
sleep. On receiving the report he immedi- 
ately ordered the entire force under arms, and 
sent out patrols to visit the Cuban district. 
They soon returned with the news that the 
huts were empty ! 

Berrez now called a council of war, and 
after informing the council of the reports of 
the patrols, he said: “Gentlemen, in my 
opinion the Cubans have risen, and intend to 
attack us during the night. Therefore, to 


A Cuban Amazon. 


85 


your posts, and see to it that a careful look- 
out is kept, and that the men stand to their 
arms all night.” With these words he re- 
tired, knowing full well that no attack would 
be made; but such was the man’s innate 
cruelty that it gave him real pleasure to make 
his subordinates uncomfortable. 


86 


A Cuban Amazon, 


CHAPTER VIII. 

“A wretched soul, bruised with adversity.’* 

—Shakespeare. 

“A child of our grandmother, Eve, a female, or 
for thy more sweet understanding, a woman.” — Ibid. 

Cisneros and his party made their way to 
the hills, where they were joined by the entire 
population of the little Cuban town. Women 
and children begged to be taken along, for 
they would far sooner undergo the hardships 
of the battlefield than trust themselves to the 
mercies of the Spaniards. 

The doom of a nation is not far off when to 
its soldiers — the men sworn to defend the de- 
fenseless, to help the helpless — women and 
children dare not trust themselves ! Woe, woe 
to a people whose men despoil the flower of 
their womankind ! 

Under these circumstances Cisneros was 
heavily handicapped, and it was decided to be 
impracticable to leave the island until a deci- 
dedly more favorable opportunity presented 
itself. On arriving at the rendezvous a con- 
ference of the leaders was immediately called, 


A Cuban Amazon, 


87 


and it was decided that the cave was the safest 
place for the weaker members of the party, 
and that they should be left there with a guard. 
When it was ascertained positively that all 
belonging to the fugitive band had arrived, 
the rocket was sent up, and a few moments 
later the flames, shooting skyward from the 
blazing hacienda, testified that the signal had 
been seen and obeyed. 

Great was the satisfaction among the Cubans 
that the hated Berrez was now paying the 
penalty of his crimes. Alas ! They did not 
know that he was at that moment plotting 
their own annihilation, and with the very man 
whom they had chosen to destroy him ! 

But the majority of the Cubans were sad- 
dened as they gazed toward the town where 
already flame after flame shot heavenward, as 
the Spanish soldiers fired the 'homes of the 
refugees ! True, they were the merest huts, 
in most instances, with thatched roof and 
naught but the uncovered earth for a floor, but 
it was “ home ” and it was their all. 

Summoning a few of his trusty followers, 
Cisneros posted them as sentries, and then or- 
dered a meeting to be held for the purpose of 
choosing a leader, and also a captain, to fill 
the place left vacant by the death of the un- 


88 


A Cuban Amazon. 


fortunate Perez. All the men proceeded to 
the spot appointed for the meeting. Cisneros 
mounted a rock and was about to begin speak- 
ing, when a challenge from the sentries was 
heard, and shortly after Alvarez was escorted 
into their midst. So loud were the congratu- 
lations showered upon this triple-dyed traitor 
by the grateful Cubans that even his seared 
conscience must have felt a twinge of remorse 
and his brazen cheek have grown hot with 
shame as he pictured to himself his last and 
vilest treachery. 

Before Cisneros could utter a word Alvarez 
was chosen by popular acclamation to fill the 
vacant captaincy — the position heretofore filled 
by the gallant and well-beloved Perez. Mean- 
while the women had not been idle. One of 
their number had proposed that a detachment 
of “Amazons” be formed, and the idea caught 
among them like wildfire. All between the 
ages of sixteen and twenty-five were at once 
enlisted. 

Evangeline stood apart from the others, 
blind and deaf to all that was taking place 
around her. She was brooding on the terrible 
wrongs she had suffered, and on the awful 
tragedy that had followed so closely upon it, 
darkening her young life in the death of Car- 


A Cuban Amazon. 


89 


los Perez, her lover. She gazed at the burning 
hacienda, the home in which she had spent so 
many happy days, and even as she looked she 
longed to be a man that she might avenge her- 
self and hers. 

While she stood thus apart, one of the Cu- 
ban women came and told her what had hap- 
pened — how the women had organized and 
had chosen her to lead them. Evangeline gazed 
upon the woman in astonishment ! Suddenly 
it burst upon her that here was the opportunity 
she had so longed for, and she uttered a wild 
cry of vengeful joy. Seizing a machete, she 
flew to the spot where the men were assem- 
bled, the other women following close behind 
her. 

Cisneros was engaged in impressing upon 
his band the necessity of a leader and strict 
discipline, when he heard Evangeline’s shout. 
Fearing some new disaster, the Cubans seized 
their arms and stood ready for defense. Great 
was their amazement, therefore, to find instead 
of their enemies, a band of women rushing in 
upon them, headed by the girl Evangeline, 
who, with her beautiful hair floating in the 
wind and her great black eyes flashing with 
excitement, while the intensity of her emo- 
tions had driven all color from her cheeks. 


90 


A Cuban Amazon. 


looked like an avenging goddess. She rushed 
to her father, and in a few words explained 
her mission and the resolution of the women. 

Clasping his daughter to his heart, Cisneros 
cried out: “Evangeline, your troubles have 
driven you mad. Go back with the women, 
my child, and let them nurse you again to 
health and reason.” 

Gently, but firmly, Evangeline shook her 
head. “ Nay, father,” she said, “ I am not mad. 
I would I were. I have never in all my life 
disobeyed you, but I can not go back to idle- 
ness. I should go mad in truth were I to do 
so. No ! I have drawn my sword and prom- 
ised my companions to lead them in their 
struggle for right and vengeance. I shall keep 
my word, and we will never lay down our 
arms till Cuba is free! Father, my dear 
father, do not fear for me. Though I am but 
a girl, I have a woman’s wrongs to avenge ; 
and when that is done, Evangeline Cisneros 
will become a woman and your daughter 
again, but not until that time!” 

Seeing there was nothing else to be done, 
Cisneros reluctantly submitted, and in a loud 
voice proclaimed to the men that the services 
of the women had been accepted, but that 
special rules would be drawn up relating to 


A Cuban Amazon. 


91 


their duties. He now called upon his men to 
choose their leader, and he noted with in- 
tense satisfaction that they all seemed to have 
made choice very quickly; but beyond all 
words was his astonishment when the cap- 
tains marched up to him and unanimously de- 
clared : 

“We, the accredited leaders of this body of 
troops, enrolled by you to fight for the defense 
and freedom of our beloved country, do here- 
by proclaim that we have this day voted for 
and elected as our Captain-in-chief, Evan- 
geline Cisneros, the much- wronged daughter 
of our noble chief. We solemnly swear to 
obey her commands and to defend her with 
our lives.” 

Evangeline heard all this with surprise and 
exclaimed, almost overcome with the magni- 
tude of the duty thus thrust upon her : “ No ! 
No ! This can not, must not be ! I am but a 
girl, and much as I long for Cuba’s freedom 
— indeed, I am more than willing to lay down 
my life if I can thereby aid in the least — but 
there are brave men to lead you. It is not for 
me to do so, and thus rob some great soul of 
the glory for which he was created! ” 

Then her father turned toward her, pride 
and love struggling for mastery in his face. 


92 


A Cuban Amazon, 


“Evangeline!” he said, “your country- 
men and countrywomen have spoken, and 
both ask that you lead them. Is it for a 
Cisneros to retreat when his country calls? 
No! Mia Cara! You have chosen your 
course and you must not shrink from going 
wherever it may lead you ! ” 

“You are right, my father,” she said, “as^ 
you always are,” and, mounting a rock, she 
bravely cast from her all embarrassment and 
proclaimed in her clear young voice : 

“ Fellow Cubans — ^You have indeed hon- 
ored me far beyond my deserts in electing me 
to be your captain and leader. The trust thus 
offered me I accept, and I promise you that 
you shall not be idle. There are two things, 
fellow soldiers, upon which I insist : One is 
that our Amazons shall share equally all du- 
ties with their male brethren ; and the other, 
that the latter promise to shield and protect 
them to the end from insult by either friend 
or foe ! ” 

A shout of assent greeted her as she finished 
and descended from the rock. The young 
chieftainess was then introduced to her offi- 
cers, each in turn, and after a long consulta- 
tion Alvarez was chosen as her lieutenant and 
chief of staff. 


A Cuban Amazon, 


93 


Orders were issued for a full parade ; arms, 
ammunition, and accoutrements were served 
out, and the scene was a busy one in the 
camp of the patriots. The women were en- 
gaged in making suitable garments for those 
of their number who were to take the field. 
All the implements, household and otherwise, 
were stowed in the caves, the outlets to which 
were closed by the Cubans, thus rendering 
them impassable — all save one, which was so 
situated that one man could defend it against 
the attack of a hundred. All horses were, of 
course, to be taken with the troops. 

At daybreak all was ready. After a hasty 
breakfast Evangeline summoned a council of 
war, and it was determined to retire to a posi- 
tion about four miles distant, where the men 
were to be drilled and preparations made for 
an advance upon the Spanish positions. The 
sentries were relieved and a guard of forty 
men was formed. This guard was placed 
under command of Captain Calleo, an old 
veteran who had seen ten years of fighting 
and hard service. Then, after many adieus 
and blessings, the patriots started on their 
first march under the command of their youth- 
ful leader. 

Cisneros, on account of his infirmities, was 


94 


A Cuban Afnazon. 


left behind in command of the cave. He had 
with him only six men, all old, but he had 
also one hundred and forty women, who 
would gladly have given the last drop of 
blood in their veins sooner than fall victims 
to the tender mercies of their Spanish ene- 
mies. They had an abundance of arms, and 
ammunition and food enough to last them a 
hundred days. Water was plenty in the nat- 
ural springs which abound in the Isle of 
Pines. Thus, save in the event of treachery, 
these devoted souls were safe. 

Lucky indeed it was for them, however, 
that Alvarez knew neither the exact location 
of the caves, the direction in which they lay, 
their secret entrances, nor the day of depart- 
ure. He was kept too busy to find out any- 
thing, else destruction would have been the 
portion of that devoted band very quickly. 


A Cuban Amazon, 


95 


CHAPTER IX. 

“ Controls them and subdues.” — Woodsworth. 

“ Shall I ask the brave soldier who fights by my 
side?” — T. Moore. 

The patriots reached their position in the 
hills after a two hours’ march. A more desir- 
able spot for their purpose could not have been 
found in the entire island, for it was well nigh 
impregnable. 

All was bustle and movement. The bellow- 
ing of the cattle which had been gathered from 
the country round about, and which were to 
serve them for food ; the noise of pitching tents, 
of placing arms and ammunition in safety, 
the laughing and jesting of the officers, the 
shouts of the coolies as they rushed hither and 
thither, the cries of little children as they, too, 
played at “ soldiering,” made a picture not 
soon to be forgotten. 

Scouts were sent out in the direction of 
Nueva Gerona and toward Santa Fe, the only 
other town of importance on the island. But 
there were no signs of movement among the 
Spaniards, although bands of volunteers were 


96 


A Cuban Amazon. 


reported to be cutting down the cane and 
tobacco in the fields and transporting it into 
Nueva Gerona, after which blazing fields 
showed that the work of spoliation had 
begun. 

All night long the Cuban sentries gazed on 
the conflagration, but it did not render them 
less vigilant in the discharge of duty, as was 
soon proven by the espying of two messen- 
gers creeping past on opposite sides of their 
position. Then were fired the first shots of 
the Cuban war, a war that has since aroused 
the entire world, and given to history some of 
the most brilliant deeds of bravery, and some 
of the vilest deeds of cruelty that ever lettered 
her pages. 

Such a fusilade was opened on these two 
that the entire camp was aroused, and the 
messengers were captured — one mortally in- 
jured, the other only slightly wounded. On 
their persons were found dispatches, and it was 
with astonishment, not unmixed with horror, 
that upon reading their contents, Evangeline 
found the signature of Juan Berrez, whom 
she and all of her companions — save, indeed, 
the villain Alvarez — thought buried in the 
ashes of Esperanza. 

The dispatches were intended for the mili- 


A Cuban Amazon. 


97 


tary commandant at Santa Fd, ordering him 
to advance and attack the insurrectionists in 
the rear, while he ( Berrez ) would attack 
them from the front. In the dispatches the 
name of Alvarez was mentioned, but only 
casually. 

• When the prisoners were brought in and 
the dispatches found on them, Alvarez would 
have slunk off and deserted but that he knew 
he would be shot down by the sentries. 
Therefore he deemed it best to put a bold 
face on the matter ; so, sauntering to the spot 
where Evangeline stood, surrounded by her 
officers and groups of men, who had gathered 
in expectation of news, he inquired if she had 
received any good tidings. 

“Yes, Senor,” Evangeline answered with 
a look of loathing. “So good that I order 
Captain Calleo and Sergeant Tomaso to 
arrest you at once, as a traitor to our 
cause ! ” 

^ “ Senorita,” cried Alvarez, now thoroughly 

alarmed at the unexpected turn of events, 
“you wrong me! You are mad! I have 
done nothing! ” 

“ No ! I can not wrong such as you ! ” she 
cried. “ This dispatch convicts you of trea- 
son ! Ask that prisoner who intrusted him 

7 


98 


A Cuban Amazon. 


with it, and whose signature is appended to 
it! Were you not left to fire the hacienda 
Esperanza? Did you not yourself volunteer to 
wreak vengeance upon the author of all our 
woes by consigning him to the death which 
he had earned by his atrocities? Yes, it was 
you, Senor Alvarez! and yet that Berrez still 
lives! Furthermore, Senor, I shall convene a 
court-martial to-morrow to try you ; and pray 
heaven, sir, you may be able to prove your 
innocence. Until then you are a prisoner ; 
and remember this : If you are found guilty — 
expect no mercy at the hands of Evangeline 
Cisneros ! ” 


A Cuban Afnazon. 


99 


CHAPTER X. 

“ Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides.” 

— Hamlet. 

“ Tremble, thou wretch, 

That hast within thee undivulged crimes. 

Unwhipped of justice! ” — King Lear. 

Shortly after breakfast the court of in- 
quiry was convened. It consisted of two 
captains, two sergeants, and two privates, 
with the captain of the Amazons, Marie Cas- 
suso, as president. 

Alvarez was brought before the court, and 
after the indictment had been read, accusing 
him of treason in the aiding and abetting of 
the enemy, he was asked : “ Lieutenant Al- 

varez, you have heard the reading of the in- 
dictment. What say you? Are you guilty 
or not guilty? ” 

‘ ‘ Not guilty ! Captain. ’ ’ 

The only evidence for the prosecution was 
the dispatch, which the times would have 
rendered sufficient had the prisoner not been 
the trusted envoy of General Gomez. This 
fact was of course strongly in his favor, and 


lOO 


A Cuban Amazon. 


on this account the court feared to deal too 
harshly with Alvarez. The mention of his 
name in the dispatches of Berrez was merely 
a casual one, and really proved nothing. 

His defense was an ingenious one. He as- 
serted that when the building was fired Ber- 
rez was still in the room and bound to the 
chair. He expressed the opinion that the 
Spanish troops, attracted by the flames, must 
have heard the cries for help uttered by their 
commander and rescued him. In the excite- 
ment of the moment they all forgot that Ber- 
rez had been left with a gag in his mouth 
and could not have cried for help unless it had 
first been removed by some friendly hand. 

Alvarez solemnly swore that he had never 
had conversation with Berrez, and asked for 
time to communicate with General Gomez for 
evidence to prove his loyalty to the patriot 
cause. The court retired, and after review- 
ing the facts of the case, decided to set the 
prisoner free for want of sufficient evidence 
to convict him. Returning, they gave their 
decision, and accordingly Alvarez was re- 
leased. He immediately repaired to Evan- 
geline and tendered her his sword and his 
resignation as captain. He knew that his 
release had given him the upper hand, and 


A Cuban Amazon. 


lOI 


he intended to make fullest use of the advan- 
tage gained. 

Though in her heart she still believed him 
to be a traitor, Evangeline begged his pardon 
for having suspected him ; for she knew only 
too well that she required his services, as it 
was only through him that she could com- 
municate with Gomez. If he were put to 
death, or permitted to leave the camp, that 
advantage would be cut off. She herself 
would have been only too glad to have seen 
the last of him whom she had intuitively 
feared and disliked from the very start. How- 
ever, he persisted so strongly in his determi- 
nation to resign that she was forced almost to 
the humiliation of begging him to remain be- 
fore he would consent. This was indescrib- 
ably bitter to the proud girl, who never for an 
instant doubted that Alvarez was treacherous 
in deed and false in heart. But there was 
nothing else to be done; no other pacific 
course to pursue, save to yield him all he de- 
manded. 

Alvarez at length consented to continue his 
duties as captain, pending the decision of 
Gomez, to whom he said he would report the 
entire affair. Still, despite Alvarez’ many 
and reiterated protestations of innocence, or 


102 


A Cuban Amazon. 


perhaps because of them, there remained deep- 
rooted in the minds of the Cubans the opinion 
that he was guilty of all of which he had been 
accused, and on this account he was at all 
times under the strictest surveillance. 

After the trial was over, the orders went 
forth for a parade, and afterwards drilling 
was to be the order of the day. The Amazon 
troop seemed to take a peculiar pride and 
pleasure in its work, and soon displayed a 
proficiency and ability in the use of the 
machete that almost or quite equalled that of 
its male confreres. 

Outpost and vidette duties were considered 
of the greatest importance, and the Cubans 
quickly became adepts at sentry work. It 
was not until evening that anything occurred 
to disturb the camp, and then scouts came in 
with the report that two bodies of Spanish 
troops had left Nueva Gerona and were 
advancing toward the west along the River 
Nuevas, and that two more were advancing 
along the River Cascas', while the main body 
remained under arms in the town. 

Evangeline gave the order to “break 
camp,” and the march began to the west of 
the Nuevas River. A small force was left 
with orders to pretend to hold the hill, but in 


A Cuban Amazon. 


103 


reality to fall back gradually. The main body 
of Cubans, headed by Evangeline, rode off at 
a hard canter, and at about nine o’clock 
arrived at the River Nuevas, and forded it. 
Scouts were sent out, and the troops halted 
for a rest. Strict silence was enjoined, and 
no fires were permitted. At about half past 
ten the scouts returned with the news that the 
Spaniards were marching along toward the 
late encampment of the Cubans. 

After a half hour’s painful silence the order 
was given to mount and advance. They had 
proceeded scarce a hundred yards when the 
advanced party sent in two prisoners, who 
had been captured after being badly macheted 
by the Amazon pickets. Nothing was learned 
from them, and their injuries being such that 
they could live but a very short time, while 
their sufferings were excruciating, they were 
mercifully and quietly dispatched. 

About three miles further on a ford was 
reached, and after a short reconnoissance the 
Cuban force recrossed the river. Firing could 
now be distinctly heard, and the blazing fields 
on either side of the Cuban position bore, in 
flaming banners, witness to the Spanish 
policy. Evangeline picked a hundred men 
and twenty women, and placing herself at the 


A Cuban Amazon. 


104 

head rode off toward Nueva Gerona, leaving 
the remainder in charge of Alvarez. She also 
left strict secret orders with Captain Calleo to 
watch him closely, and to shoot him down at 
the first indication of treachery. 

Arriving in sight of the first Spanish fort, 
Evangeline’s party advanced, with the women 
in the center, as though they had been taken 
prisoners. In answer to the sentry’s chal- 
lenge ; ^uien va ? they answered unhesi- 
tatingly : “ Espanolef ” 

Reaching the ground just opposite the fort, 
a sudden estrafade was made, and before the 
astonished Spaniards comprehended what had 
taken place they found themselves prisoners. 
Unfortunately, however, the sentry on the 
lookout had fired and killed one man, thus 
giving the alarm to the small garrison. After 
ordering the removal of all arms and ammuni- 
tion, and that they be sent at once to the 
reserves, Evangeline commanded that the fort 
be fired. 

The sentry, the firing of whose gun had 
given the alarm to the garrison, was shot, and 
the other prisoners, twenty in all, were bound 
and thrown into the fields. A note was given 
to the sergeant in command, with instructions 
for its delivery to Berrez. A rush was then 


A Cuban Amazon. 


105 

made by the Cubans to the center of the town, 
and Berrez’ house was looted and fired, as 
were all the houses near it. 

The little garrison opened fire on the 
Cubans, and three rockets were sent up as 
signals for a speedy return of the absent 
Spanish forces. Knowing the utter impossi- 
bility of holding the town against the superior 
numbers of the Spaniards, Evangeline gave 
the order to retreat, carrying off the wounded 
and the spoils. The Cubans quickly rejoined 
the main body and retired across the river, 
having thus, by a flank movement, completely 
out-generaled the renowned Colonel Berrez, 
and succeeded in capturing fifty stands of 
Manser rifles, seven thousand rounds of 
ammunition, thirty-six revolvers, and twenty 
saddles. They had also killed and wounded 
thirty Spaniards, and destroyed the governor’s 
residence and all his papers ; and best of all, 
they had despoiled him of three thousand 
centimos in gold. Half the town was also in 
flames, while as an offset to this they had but 
four killed and nine wounded. Having thus 
made a good commencement of their cam- 
paign, they were well content with their 
work. 

Evangeline ordered the force to retrace its 


io6 


A Cuban Amazon. 


way back to the hills. Scouts reported that 
the Spaniards on the opposite side of the 
river were hastening toward the town, and 
she immediately dispatched Calleo and fifty 
men to harass their retreat. She then led the 
main body back to their old encampment, 
where they found their comrades, with one 
exception uninjured, and that one had suffered 
only a slight wound. Twelve dead bodies of 
Spaniards were brought in and buried, and 
eighteen had their wounds cared for and were 
then placed in custody. 

The sun was now high in the heavens, and 
after eating a hasty meal and seeing that 
sentries were placed, the little band retired to 
rest, thoroughly worn out with its first experi- 
ence in warfare. Evangeline retired to a 
hastily improvised hut which had been con- 
structed for her own private use. Throwing 
herself into a hammock, she gave herself up to 
the bitterness of thought. Here was she — a 
young girl who all her life had been carefully 
nurtured and indulged by a fond father, who, 
since the hour when her young mother, know- 
ing that death was coming fast, had placed 
her in that father’s arms, had ever feared that 
the winds of heaven should blow ungently 
upon her — here was she, suddenly thrown 


A Cuban Amazon, 


107 

homeless upon the world, after having suffered 
all the indignities that a woman can endure 
and live. 

Besides, as if Fate wished to go to the very 
extreme in her irony, she — Evangeline Cis- 
neros — who had never known a ruder sound 
than the songs of the birds in the dear old 
garden — was placed in command of a body of 
troops, to lead them on to desperate fighting, 
to see men and women shot down and 
macheted in all the horrors of war. Merciful 
God! Could any life be more suddenly or 
completely changed? Could any fate be more 
ghastly? Was it for this that she had been so 
carefully reared, so gently cared for, so ten- 
derly loved? Was she — whose highest am- 
bition had ever been to be the wife of the 
man she loved, and the fond mother of his 
babes, and to rear them to noble lives — was 
she to become a mere butcher, a bloody 
Bellona ? 

And yet, her crushed and bleeding country, 
her beloved Cuba, groaning under the lash of 
an infamous master, cried to her for help. 
And should she be the first Cisneros in all 
that long and illustrious line of fair women 
and brave men, to refuse response to her 
country when she called? 


io8 A Cuban Amazon. 

Thus worn with excitement and fatigue, 
and torn by distracting thoughts, she soon fell 
asleep. It was not until late in the afternoon 
that she awoke to find her father seated by 
the hammock’s side. Who shall picture that 
meeting between those two devoted and loving 
hearts ! Let its tender passages remain invi- 
olate. Late in the evening, Cisneros, havings 
dined with his daughter, returned to his 
charges in the cave. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


109 


CHAPTER XI. 

** Beaten with his owne rod.” — Heywood. 

” Which, if not victory, is yet revenge.” 

— Milton. 

Berrez, after parting with the traitor, Al- 
varez, on the fatal Sunday that had been the 
turning point of so many lives, returned to 
his residence, and, throwing himself on his 
bed, slept none the less soundly for the weight 
of crime which now rested on him. 

He awoke early the next morning, visited 
the sentries and the forts, and seeing that the 
men were pretty thoroughly exhausted by the 
excitement of the previous night, he ordered 
a dismissal. Proceeding to his residence, he 
ordered the ten Cuban prisoners, arrested on 
the Saturday before, to be brought before him. 
He questioned them concerning their par- 
ticipation in the council of the Cubans, but 
could glean no satisfaction from their replies. 
Again and again he plied them with ques- 
tions, and again and again the same stolid 
silence, the same utter indifference to their 
fate, was his only answer. 


no 


A Cuban Amazon, 


Then he changed his tactics ; told them how 
kindly he felt toward them, and offered them 
— the alternative of betraying their country- 
men or of being shot! To a man they re- 
fused the nefarious offer, and calmly awaited 
their fate. After four hours at prayers, which 
the magnanimous heart of Berrez permitted 
them, they were taken out to the plaza in 
front of the Governor’s quarters, and with 
arms pinioned, placed standing with their 
backs to the soldiers. 

From time immemorial a soldier has always 
considered it a thing of which to be ashamed 
if he be wounded in the back, or is not per- 
mitted to face death. For that reason Spain 
adds the further indignity of shooting these 
men in the back, knowing full well that they 
regard it in the light of a last insult. Poor 
souls! In the light that streams from your 
Father’s throne you will see that “ much has 
been forgiven ” you, because, like one in days 
of old, “ye have loved much.” And even 
the blackness of a death at the hands of the 
Spanish soldiery will have been swept away, 
leaving only the bright rays of His love shin- 
ing all round and about you ! 

Thus while these brave souls are launched 
into the vast ocean of eternity, Berrez looks 


A Cuban Ainazon. 


Ill 


on in smiling approval that “ so perish the 
traitor enemies of our beloved King, Alphonso 
XIII., King of Spain!” While from the 
lips of the ten men whom he is having 
murdered goes up simultaneously this shout, 
“ Viva Cuba Libre 1 ” 

The dispatches which fell into the hands of 
the Cubans were written that night and sent 
off by two of his best men, never doubting 
that they would be safely delivered. He then 
sent for his two commandants and unfolded 
his plans of campaign, one being for the two 
wings to march on opposite flanks of the 
Cubans, while he advanced on the center 
with the main body of troops. In this way 
he would drive the Cubans back to the hills, 
where they would be surrounded on three 
sides, and their only line of retreat on the 
fourth side cut off by the force which he ex- 
pected from Santa Fe, in obedience to the dis- 
patches which he had sent. 

His plans would have succeeded well enough 
had the Cubans been less vigilant and per- 
mitted his messengers to get through ; he also 
failed to calculate upon all of the Cubans 
being mounted. One thing more : He did 
not even dream that they would dare to at- 
tempt such a bold flank movement as that 


II2 


A Cuban Amazon, 


which, led by the girl Evangeline, they had 
so successfully executed. 

That evening, his brigade being ready to 
set oif , Berrez himself gave them their instruc- 
tions. Riding before them, he said : 

“Soldiers! The hydra-headed monster of 
insurrection and civil war has nested within 
the boundaries of this fair isle, and it devolves 
upon you to stamp it out ! Spain expects it 
of you, and you will not disappoint her ! Go 
forth, and give no quarter! All who resist, 
or who are found to be either aiding or abet- 
ting the Insurrects, must die ! And you must 
either shoot them or machete them — all save 
two — Evangeline Cisneros, daughter of that 
arch-rebel, Francisco Vincento Cisneros, and 
Lieutenant Alvarez. They are to be taken 
alive, if possible, and brought to me, and I 
will deal with them in accordance with their 
crimes. Soldiers! I have spoken, and I de- 
pend upon you.” 

Berrez himself set out at the head of the 
main body. He encountered no opposition 
until he arrived at the foot of the hills. Then 
fire was opened upon his troops from twelve 
different points. He advanced cautiously, 
halting frequently in expectation of hearing 
shots in the rear of the Cuban position, where 


A Cuban Amazon. 


he anticipated the co-operative attack by the 
Spanish forces from Santa Fe. Great, there- 
fore, was his astonishment and rage when he 
saw the three rockets rising from the town of 
Nueva Gerona, which he had just left. Gazing 
in that direction he saw the flames shoot up 
from building after building, as the Cubans 
plied their work of destruction. 

Hastily ordering a retreat, he made a des- 
perate effort in the hope of cutting off the 
raiders, only to find that he was again too 
late ; while Calleo and his men aggravated 
his chagrin by their harassing attacks on his 
rear. Arriving at the town with foam-covered 
horse, and himself almost consumed with rage, 
he found his main guard lying in the field 
where they had been left by the Cubans, bound 
and utterly helpless. 

They were quickly released, and the sergeant 
was brought before him to explain matters. 
Shaking in his boots — for one look into Ber- 
rez’ face showed the poor sergeant that he 
had a wild animal, not a reasoning human 
creature, with which to deal — he saluted and 
waited until the volley of questions had ceased, 
and the Governor paused for a reply. Then, 
saluting a second time, the sergeant delivered 
Evangeline’s note. 

8 


A Cuban Amazon. 


114 

‘ ‘ In the name of the Son of Mary ! ’ ’ Berrez 
cried, almost beside himself with passion and 
disappointment, “ what were you cursed idiots 
about, that you permitted a half dozen laborers, 
undrilled and unskilled, led on by a half crazy 
girl, to walk up and take you prisoners, tie 
you, and fling you like bundles of hay over 
into the field, there to lie and rot did not your 
commandant return and release you.” 

Not a word said the sergeant. Indeed, it 
was an altogether hopeless effort to stem the 
tide of Berrez’ angry recriminations. The 
sergeant only bowed profoundly and remained 
silent. Generally speaking, this was the best 
thing to do ; replies or excuses, as a rule, only 
adding fuel to the fire. This time, however, 
Berrez cried out : 

“Hell and furies!! Why don’t you an- 
swer me ! ’ ’ 

“ The attack was so sudden and unexpected. 
Colonel, that the men ” 

The Colonel broke in fiercely: “Neither 
falsehood nor putting the blame upon others 
shall save you this time. Why were you not 
prepared for an attack? Did I not tell you 
when I left to beware — that you might ex- 
pect an attack at any time ? ’ ’ 

This was not true ; he had said nothing of 
the kind, but no one dared to say so. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


”5 


“Why were you not prepared? God’s 
death, man ! do you suppose I shall pass over 
lightly such a breach of discipline? Shall 
Juan Berrez swallow such an insult as this? ” 
and he struck Evangeline’s note fiercely ; 
“and coming from a woman, and that 
woman ’ ’ 

But the look on the faces about him 
warned him that he was going too far. Be- 
sides, he believed that his men did not know 
of his treatment of Evangeline and its results, 
and it was to his advantage to keep them in 
ignorance of it. 

But he went on : “ When, in all the annals 
of Spain, have her men been beaten and tied 
and treated like so many little boys, by a 
namby-pamby girl? Never before — never 
until Juan Berrez was cursed with a fool and 
a knave for a sergeant ! ’ ’ 

The sergeant’s face grew very white. Ber- 
rez went on raving like a madman : “ Noth- 
ing but treachery in the guard can account for 
it ; and doubtless your empty head was turned 
by the woman’s pretty face, or for one of 
her kisses you betrayed your country and 
your commander! Curse you, you traitor!” 

The worm turned at last. “ That is false! 
I am neither a coward, a traitor, nor a de~ 
haucher of young girls ! ” 


ii6 A Cuban Amazon, 

Berrez whitened to the lips. With a roar 
of rage he shouted: “By God, for that you 
die ! ’ ’ And with the words he struck the 
unfortunate sergeant down with his machete. 

Kicking the body aside, he strode from the 
room. The thing that bit, and rankled, and 
tore his vile heart, was that the forces which 
had so completely and thoroughly out-generaled 
him had been in command of the girl whom 
he had so cruelly and pitilessly dishonored. 
With this fact burning into his brain like a 
red-hot iron, he mounted his charger and 
dashed off to his residence, only to find it 
gone — burnt to the ground, the ashes still 
smoking ! He heard the report of the severe 
defeat of the officer left in charge, and his 
rage cooled as report after report was brought 
to him proving that his dispatches must have 
been captured. He saw that he would be 
forced to employ greater caution, and that for 
the time he must act on the defensive until 
help could be summoned from the mainland 
of Cuba. 

A new residence was fitted up to receive 
him. He immediately issued a proclamation 
of free pardon to all Insurrects who should 
surrender within ten days’ time, excepting 
only Evangeline and her father, on whose 


A Cuban Amazon, 


117 

heads a price of one hundred thousand cen- 
timos each was placed. At the expiration of 
the ten days of grace, sentence of death was 
decreed against all who still remained under 
arms. This proclamation he ordered posted 
not only throughout the town, but also as 
near to the Cuban position as possible, in 
order that it might the more readily catch the 
eyes of all waverers. This done, he retired 
with the none too pleasant reflections of a 
man who has been thoroughly beaten at his 
own game ; and that, too, by a mere girl, and 
one whom he had purposed using as a tool ! 


ii8 


A Cuban Ainazon. 


CHAPTER XII. 

“ Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.** 
— Old Testament. 

“ The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the 
strong.” — Ibid. 

Evangeline called her officers into council 
to consider future operations. The captured 
dispatches were again brought into requisi- 
tion, and it was decided, in order that their 
rear might not be left exposed to the enemy, 
that the capture and destruction of Santa 
was indispensable. All the Cubans on the 
island were to be urged to join their ranks at 
once, and unless the Spaniards showed an in- 
clination to be more merciful they would be 
compelled to retaliate. 

That evening parties were sent out with 
orders to destroy all plantations and habita- 
tions within reach, while a strong force under 
Calleo reconnoitered the road to Nueva Ger- 
ona. By three o’clock next morning all had 
returned, Calleo’s men bringing with them 
six prisoners — four members of a Spanish 
guerrilla force and two of the volunteer force. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


119 

The entire six were shot, as both these types 
of Spanish soldiers have shown themselves to 
be the most relentless and vicious members of 
an army whose soldiers have ever been re- 
nowned for their cruelties, and therefore 
mercy shown to them would have been mercy 
wasted. 

After long and earnest consultation it was 
thought wisest — and the orders were conse- 
quently issued — for an immediate evacuation 
of the Cuban position ; and the entire force, 
with the exception of six men left in the cave, 
started on the march to Santa Fe. Evange- 
line first sent a messenger to her father ap- 
prising him of their movements, and asking 
his advice and his blessing. In reply he sent 
the following : 

“Child of my heart! The decision is a 
wise one, and will meet with success, thus 
strengthening your force. Act with judg- 
ment ; consult with your captains, and re- 
member ever that you are but the instrument 
with which a just and righteous God, angered 
at the wrongs done to his children, scourges 
the evil-doers. Go forward, my heart’s de- 
light, and know that every wind that visits 
thy cheek too roughly finds its way to thy 
father’s heart and chills it. Adios, my dar- 


120 


A Cuban Amazon. 


ling ! Every throb of your heart finds its an- 
swering throb in mine ; and should death fling 
a dart at you, my loved one, it would also find 
a lodgment within my body! Adios! God 
guard and keep you, my child, and may Cuba 
Libre be ever the first desire of your life ! I 
embrace you and bless you. Your father, 

“ Cisneros.” 

The tears welled up into her eyes as she 
read, making the words glimmer and dance. 
As she went on they dropped slowly, and 
when she had finished she lifted the note to 
her lips, and fondly kissing the name, mur- 
mured : “Amen! my father! God keep 

thee! ” 

Santa Fe was somewhat more than a good 
day’s march through the hills. They set out 
long before the sun rose, that they might be 
well on their way before the midday heat 
came upon them. Nature was in her most 
charming array. Birds sang merrily, while 
the air was heavy with the perfume of the 
woods. The yellow jessamine was overpow- 
ering in its sweetness, and ofttimes they rode 
flank deep through deliciously sweet-scented 
ferns. Here and there crystal-clear streams 
of water flowed down from among the rocks, 
purling and rippling and laughing, adding 


A Cuban A7nazon. 


I2I 


the one thing necessary to make the landscape 
ideally perfect. 

Evangeline could not restrain the feeling as 
if an icy hand clutched at her throat, as she 
remembered that they were all the slaves of a 
tyrant master; and that this fair land, that 
should have been one of the gem republics of 
the world, was but the home of slaves, and 
slaves whose backs were breaking beneath 
their burdens. 

After leaving the hills and coming out into 
the farming districts, the sight was far from 
encouraging. These had in almost every case 
been laid waste, and presented a sad and deso- 
late sight. A sigh rose to her lips. “ Oh, 
my bleeding country ! Would to God 7" might 
be accepted as the vicarious sacrifice ! How 
gladly would I die, if by so doing I could 
make this fair land free, and place her in her 
rightful setting among the free ones of the 
earth. Oh, Cuba ! Thou too art ‘ a gem of 
the ocean! ’ Pray heaven, some Washington 
rise and make thee ‘ free and independent! 

Meanwhile Berrez, taking advantage of his 
position as Governor, had communicated with 
Spain without waiting to do so in connection 
with the other authorities— officers of the 
main island, his dispatches making it appear 


122 


A Cuba7t Amazon. 


that while these other officers of His Majesty- 
in Cuba were not exactly neglectful, yet he, 
Juan Berrez, was especially watchful, and 
that to his watchfulness was due the discovery 
of this “ incipient rebellion,” which he would 
suppress in a few days. 

And to do the creature justice, he never 
guessed how widespread was the disaffection 
and the hatred of Spain. Tyrants never 
know, never realize, that they are hated ; they 
attribute any dissatisfaction of which they 
may be cognizant to some person, or at most 
to the smallest coterie of enemies, who, be- 
cause of jealousy or some other equally ordi- 
nary reason, have become dissatisfied. So 
with Berrez. He was truly ignorant of the 
fact that the supporters of Spain in the Isle 
were only those who were in the pay of Spain. 
He had not thought it necessary to take es- 
pecial precautionary measures for the protec- 
tion of Santa Fe, not knowing that the people 
were only awaiting a chance to rebel. 

Relying upon her knowledge of the man, 
Evangeline was most desirous of capturing 
the city before Berrez should have had time 
to inform the garrison of Santa Fe of the 
punishment that had been administered at 
Nueva Gerona by the rebel forces under her 
leadership. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


123 


Santa Fe was somewhat more than a good 
day’s march, and only one enemy was encoun- 
tered ; he was the bearer of the weekly dis- 
patch from the commandant at Santa Fe to 
Governor Berrez, and was of course easily 
captured. The dispatch showed that nothing 
had yet been heard at Santa Fe concerning 
the Cuban rising, but that the Cubans of that 
place were dissatisfied, and their leader. Ear- 
nest Rodriguez, had been arrested and thrown 
into prison. The garrison of Santa Fe con- 
sisted of fifty men, armed with Mansers and a 
small six-pound gun. 

It was evening when the Cubans came in 
sight of the town, but on account of the fa- 
tigue of the march it was decided to halt and 
postpone the attack until early morning. As 
quickly as possible everything was made ready 
for the night, and after partaking of a hasty 
supper the men made themselves as com- 
fortable as the circumstances would permit, 
and were soon dreaming of freedom for Cuba. 

The prisoner was confined in a hut near the 
officers’ hammocks, and a sentry was posted 
at the door. A cloud covered the moon, and 
the night was dark and murky. The sentry 
marched up and down for a while, and then, 
finding a convenient stump, sat down and 


124 


A Cuban Amazon, 


began musing upon the outcome of this war. 
Now he saw Cuba free, and a sister republic 
of the United States ; now, as • the scene 
shifted, he saw himself the owner of a tidy 
bit of land, and his busy little wife helping 
him as only a good wife can ; the children 
were rosy and growing, and, best of all, they 

were attending school — and — and — and 

The tired head nodded, but with a start he 
roused himself. “Strange, I can not keep 
my eyes open! And yet I’ve eaten nothing, 
drank nothing — pshaw ! I’m only tired. How 
I wish I had another cigar like the one Lieu- 
tenant Alvarez gave me this evening. I 
must quit smoking so much, however. Why, 
I fancy it affects my heart. I felt so queer 
after smoking the one he gave me ! ’ ’ 

He rose, walked up and down for a few 
moments, satisfied himself that there was noth- 
ing wrong, and reseating himself before the 
door of the hut fought against the drowsy 
feeling that seemed so unaccountably strong, 
and — in a little time was fast asleep. A few 
moments later Alvarez stood beside him and 
spoke his name, but was answered only by 
the heavy breathing of the sleeping sentry. 
Passing inside the hut he awakened the pris- 
oner by a soft hissing sound close to his ear, 


A Cuban Amazon, 


125 

and, starting up, the latter saw the figure of 
Alvarez, clothed in the Cuban uniform, stand- 
ing beside him, 

“ Come,” said the traitor, and he held out 
a cloak to the Spaniard ; ‘ ‘ cover yourself with 
this and come with me.” 

The prisoner obeyed noiselessly and fol- 
lowed Alvarez from the hut. In front of the 
door, still wrapped in profound slumber and 
leaning back against the hut, sat the sentry. 
Alvarez slipped the rifle from the grasp of the 
unconscious man, and handing it to the Span- 
iard, said : 

“Pass on with me, as the sergeant of the 
rounds.” 

Sentinel after sentinel was visited, until at 
last they reached a spot near the main road 
which led to the town. There they halted, 
and Alvarez gave the man a note, saying : 
“Make all haste to your commander, and 
don’t forget me.” 

Promising all that was asked, the prisoner 
slipped away in the darkness, and the traitor 
returned to his quarters. Scarce an hour 
elapsed before an outcry was raised and the 
entire camp roused. The relief watch on its 
rounds had found the sentry asleep and un- 
armed, and the prisoner gone from the hut. 


126 


A Cuban Amazon. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

“ There was mounting in hot haste ! ” — Byron. 

“ The flowers and fruits of love are gone, 

The worm, the canker, and the grief 
Are mine alone ! ” — Ibid. 

Forthwith Evangeline issued orders for 
her troops to get under arms and to make an 
attack upon Santa Fd before the Spaniards 
were given a chance to complete preparations 
for their reception. 

Alvarez strove to bring about a delay, and 
employed all his persuasive powers to that 
end, pretending to act in behalf of the troops ; 
urging that they were worn out by their 
long march, and therefore unable to cope 
with fresh troops, and that the fight must of 
necessity be an unequal one, and one that 
might end disastrously for the patriots. But 
for once his words were unavailing. They 
fell upon deaf ears — upon the ears of men in 
whose veins ran the love of liberty and the 
anxiety to improve every opportunity of strik- 
ing a blow for the freedom of their beloved 
land. 


A Cuban A?nazon, 


127 


So, mounting their horses in haste, with 
brave hearts the Cubans made a dash for the 
town, and were within thirty yards of the 
place before the slightest alarm was raised. 
The garrison of the first fort opened fire, and 
a dozen riders dropped to the ground, but the 
attack was not to be easily beaten off. Leav- 
ing fifty men to deal with the defenders of 
the fort, Evangeline at the head of the others 
pushed her way on to the heart of the town. 
Spaniards were met hastening to their rendez- 
vous, and were macheted without ceremony. 
A brief resistance was made by those who 
succeeded in reaching the meeting place, and 
thirty of the garrison were killed in this 
struggle before the commandant saw its use- 
lessness and surrendered. 

Young Rodriguez was released from his 
prison, and everything of value removed from 
the town. Then the order was issued to raze 
it to the ground, and in less than an hour not 
one building was left standing. Evangeline 
now mustered her troops and found that with 
the reinforcements of Cuban men and women 
from Santa Fe, they numbered two hundred 
and eighty. The new detachment was organ- 
ized into a company under the command of 
Rodriguez. The Spanish prisoners, number- 


128 


A Cuban Amazon, 


ing twenty men, and their commander, Don 
Filipe, were placed under the escort of the 
women. Thus the entire party moved off 
toward the Cuban camp on the hill, carrying 
with them the spoils of the Spaniards, and 
the household effects of the Cubans who had 
joined them. The women and children fol- 
lowed, in charge of Rodriguez and his Santa 
Fe detachment, which formed the rear guard. 

Evangeline, with the main body, pushed 
forward, sending out a strong advance guard 
and flanking patrol. The military ability 
displayed by this young girl was truly won- 
derful — and a fact upon which those best 
drilled in such matters commented again and 
again. It was, therefore, not astonishing that 
she was loved by men, women, and children, 
who looked upon her as a Heaven-sent leader, 
and obeyed her blindly and without question. 
Alvarez too, traitor though he was, became 
her devoted slave, and a number of times 
saved her from making injudicious moves — 
moves which might have resulted in annihila- 
tion for herself and her entire company. 
Just what the motive was that induced him to 
pursue so inconsistent a course, he himself 
would have found it hard to explain. 

Toward evening a halt was called, and 


A Cuban Amazon, 


129 


the Cubans encamped in a ravine. It was 
an ideal spot for a bivouac, sheltered on 
both sides. Women and children, footsore 
and weary, began to make ready for the night. 
Gradually the wailing of the younger children 
hushed, as after being made comfortable, and 
the gnawings of hunger satisfied, they fell 
asleep one after another, until finally the 
camp became silent save for the click of the 
sentry’s spurs or the clank of his machete 
scabbard. The peace of night was over all, 
and the Cubans, worn out with the long, hard 
day, lay down in security to gain a much- 
needed and well-earned rest. 

Evangeline only was ill at ease, and could not 
rest. After an evening meal, so frugal and 
partaken of so sparingly as to cause Therasita 
to remonstrate, she pushed aside the remainder 
of it and said : “ Take it away, Therasita ; I 
don’t want it.” 

“ But, Senorita, how are you to keep up if 
you eat no more than this? Shall I fix you 
something else, Senorita? ” 

“ No, Therasita I’m too tired to eat 

anything more.” And then, as if rousing 
herself from a deep study, she added: “In- 
deed, I’m not a bit hungry.” 

“But, Senorita, look,” persisted the girl; 

9 


130 


A Cuban Amazon, 


“you haven’t eaten anything at all! Just 
half a cup of coffee, and — Madre di Dios / — 
that’s every bite you’ve taken! The rest of 
your supper you haven’t touched. How can 
you live, Senorita, if you don’t eat?” 

Evangeline pushed the waves of heavy hair 
from her brow, and putting up her hand 
fumbled at the fastening of her jacket collar 
as if it choked her ; when she spoke again 
her voice was hoarse, and rasped a little : “I 
shall live, Therasita, until it comes my time to 
die, and my time won’t come for many, many 
years yet. Put the supper away, cara mia, 
and don’t let your tender heart worry about 
me any more. There’s not the slightest need 
for it.” 

Therasita loved her mistress fondly, and 
therefore had always been privileged to say 
much that in another servant would have 
been considered impudent. Now she flung 
her apron over her head and wept. 

“Why do you weep, Therasita? ” 

“Alas! Senorita, I weep because of the 

changes come into our lives, and because ” 

The girl hesitated, for into the face of Evan- 
geline came a strange grayish pallor almost 
like death, while into her eyes there stole a 
look akin to terror. Her voice was hoarse as 
she said ; 


A Cuban Amazon, 


131 

“Nay, Therasita ; do not speak to me on 
that subject ! If you do, I shall go mad. It 
is only by putting aside the thoughts that 
come crowding up, that I can endure life at 
all. If I permitted myself to think, I should 
either go mad, or with one of these ” — and she 
tapped the holster of her pistol — “end every- 
thing ! But I put Evangeline Cisneros out of 
the matter, only in so far as she may be of 
some small use to Cuba. If I can be that — ” 
the dreamy, far-away look crept into the 
lovely face — “if I can be that,, I shall have 
lived to some purpose, and my sufferings will 
not have been in vain. Oh, my country ! oh, 
my beloved land ! Let me be but the instru- 
ment in the hand of the Lord, wherewith He 
shall confound His enemies and rescue them 
from bondage, and I will go to the stake or 
to the rack, and make no moan ! It is for thee, 
dear land, for thee I live ! ” 

She rose, and gave the order for the assem- 
bling of her Council. The program for the 
next day being fixed, she gravely, and with a 
gentle dignity rare in one so young, dis- 
missed them with some special word or special 
greeting for each. She seemed to divine, 
with rare good judgment, the very thing to 
say that would either quiet a feeling of dissat- 


132 


A Cuban Amazon. 


isf action or put some doubt to rest, or be a 
balm for some slight, real or fancied. Always 
soothing and quieting, never by the slightest 
chance stirring up strife or ill feeling, Evan- 
geline Cisneros seemed born to rule. 

When all had left her, she said to Therasita : 
“I shall go for a little walk, carita; I am 
restless and can not sleep. I will not go out 
of sight — only just there, under the trees, 
where that streamlet comes stealing along, and 
tells us, if we do but know how to listen, how 
short are the hours of time, how long the eons 
of eternity ! ’ ’ 

Passing out of the tent, she seated herself 
on the bank of the little stream and gazed 
upward into the deep blue of the sky, where 
trembled millions of tiny glittering, golden 
worlds, as though enmeshed in a silver seine. 
The dark, fathomless eyes were scalded with 
tears as she gazed, while a low moan broke 
over her lips. Despite her efforts to put away 
thoughts of the past, they would crowd up, 
and memory became too vivid with dream- 
forms of the beloved and deeply mourned 
Carlos. 

For the first time since that night that was 
to her a dumb horror she found herself alone 
where she might think undisturbed. Hers 


A Cuban Amazon. 133 

had been the mad, all-consuming love of a 
virgin Cleopatra for her boyish Antony, and 
but that there came into her life at the time of 
his death another passion second only to her 
love for Perez — revenge — she would have 
found life intolerable and not to be lived! 
As it was the days dragged by, casting a 
shadow over her heart ; and but for the work 
that roused her from brooding, she would have 
gone mad with groping in the darkness of the 
future. 

“Ah, me! ” sighed the girl. “ These mem- 
ories of a past life that was all love and joy 
and the ecstasy of mere living madden me. 
I, who so love and crave companionship, am 
left so entirely alone ; not even my father can 
remain with me.” 

She slipped to her knees, and clasping her 
hands to her bosom she prayed : “Oh, sweet 
Mother of Sorrows, thou hast felt the knife- 
thrust in thy tender heart ! Help me to bear 
my sorrow as thou didst thine ! Unless thou 
dost give me succor, I faint and fall by the 
wayside. Save my wretched country from 
the heel of the oppressor, and if my poor life 
can be of service, take it, sweet Mother, and 
set me free ! ’ ’ 

A step on the soft grass, or the crushing of 


134 ^ Cuban Amazon. 

a stray pebble perchance, sounded close at 
hand. She started to her feet, passing her 
hand hastily over her face, as if she would 
wipe out all traces of excitement or feeling, 
and turning met the searching gaze of Al- 
varez. He saluted her, for Alvarez was ever 
watchful of all the small affairs of life, and in 
the most respectful manner asked permission 
to seat himself beside her, as he had some- 
thing of importance to announce. Reluct- 
antly Evangeline gave the required permis- 
sion, asking at the same time if anything were 
wrong in camp, and unable to conquer a pre- 
sage of coming evil. 

“ No, Senorita,” he answered sadly, “ there 
is nothing wrong in the camp ; it is all with 
myself.” 

She darted a glance of startled expectancy 
at him, and a look, half terror, half knowledge, 
crept up into the dark eyes.'" Her woman’s 
intuition told her what was coming, and her 
woman’s courage shrank and quivered under 
this new strain put upon it. By neither word 
nor act would she help him in the telling of 
his story. So she sat with tightly clasped 
hands gazing straight before her, the eyes a 
little dilated, the sensitive nostrils quivering, 
the red mouth firmly shut. 


A Cuban Amazon, 135 

“ Senorita,” he began again, “since the 
first moment I beheld you as you sought your 
father in your trouble, smarting as you were 
from the insult of that cur ” 

She put up her hand as if to ward off a 
blow, but he went on : “I have felt for you 
a passion and a tenderness which no other 
woman has ever inspired in me ; and since 
that night ” 

She paled so suddenly that even his craven 
heart pitied her, as she whispered hoarsely : 
“Oh! spare me! Senor, for very shame^s 
sake ! Spare me ! ’ ’ 

But Alvarez had a point to gain, and the 
shamed agony of twenty women would not 
have deterred him. He continued: “Yes, 
Evangeline, although you did not know it ; 
for, like the Spartan boy, I have hidden my 
feelings even while my heart was being lac- 
erated and the very fountain of my life 
sapped. You have made me love you, adore 
you, and I can not longer keep within bounds 
that which fills my entire being. I can no 
longer wear a mask, Senorita. It is foreign 
to my nature to dissemble, and to be unable to 
be myself,^ to be forced to be on guard at all 
times, has become galling to me.” 

That there was truth in his last words can 


136 


A Cuban Amazon. 


not be denied, but not in the connection in 
which he used them. Evangeline shrank 
away from Alvarez, as he went on with his 
rhapsodies. 

“ Senor Alvarez,” she said at last, “ this is 
unworthy a man and a soldier. Is it because 
I am alone that you come to me with love 
tales? This is not the time for thoughts of 
that sort. And to come to me., and so soon 
after the horrible tragedy that was stamped 

into my life ” Here her words caught in 

her throat and choked her. She turned on 
him fiercely. “Do you think me so lost to 
all maidenly feeling that I would sit here and 
listen to avowals of love from any man so 
soon — so soon ” 

“ Stop, Senorita! You are wronging both 
yourself and me by such wild words. The 
honest love of a man is never shame for any 
woman.” 

“You 'will not comprehend me!” she 
cried. “Am I accursed, that every man who 
comes near me must talk of love and passion, 
and all those things that are so sweet to listen 
to when coming from the lips of those we 
love, and are such heavy news, and do so 
grate upon one’s feelings, when we do not 
and we can not love the teller! Nay, Senor; 


A Cuban Amazon. 


wait, I beg you, until peace comes. Then 
will be time enough to discourse of love and 
marriage.” 

“ Surely, Senorita, you will not waste your 
young life upon the memory of the dead. 
Fondly as he loved you, he would not ask 
such a sacrifice if he himself could speak. 
It is too much to ask, that you live your life 
alone — you, who are so fitted by nature for all 
the joys of love! Give me but one little 
crumb of comfort. Bid me hope. Bid me 
wait for you— one year, three years, or until 
your wounded heart is not so sore — and I will 
do it gladly, if only you will give me your 
sweet self in the end. But simply ‘ wait,’ 
with no reward in sight — Senorita, your con- 
ditions are too hard.” 

“ Nay, Senor Alvarez ! I will not buoy you 
up with false hopes that can never, never be 
fulfilled. My heart is dead to all love, save 
love for my father, and love — an all-abiding 
love — for my country, in such dire need of 
true and loyal hearts. As for me, I can only 
reiterate that my heart is lifeless as last year’s 
dead leaves. I have no love in me to give to 
any one.” 

“ Then, Senorita, I must go from you alto- 
gether,” said Alvarez. “I must seek some 


A Cuban Amazon. 


place where the constant sight of you will not 
add fuel to the fire which now consumes me. 
I will then make my way to the coast, and 
thence from this island to General Gomez.” 

Here, again, Alvarez made use of the 
power which he held as envoy of Gomez, to 
further his projects ; for had he left and gone 
to Gomez, he could have ended all hopes 
which the Cubans had of aid from that quar- 
ter. Evangeline pleaded with him to remain, 
but his resolution was unshaken, and. he 
would be moved from it only by her promise 
of marriage. Then the girl importuned him 
for delay, and Alvarez yielded thus far, and 
left her to herself. When he had gone she 
buried her face in her hands, and burst into a 
wild fit of weeping. Her breast rose and fell 
with each sob, and her shoulders heaved as if 
the sobs came direct from her tortured heart. 
The torment seemed almost more than she 
could bear. And yet, this man held them all 
so completely in his power that her soul sick- 
ened when she remembered it, and the 
thought became a lash to scourge her loyal, 
patriot heart, as she remembered that this 
might be the very sacrifice demanded of her 
by Heaven — to go to this man’s arms for the 
salvation of her country. 


A Cuban Afnazon. 


139 


“Oh, my God!” she sobbed. “My 
adored Savior, who was tortured to the limit 
of thy physical strength, have pity upon me ! 
Help me 1 Oh, my Savior and my God ! I 
pray as thou didst once pray, ‘ let this cup 
pass from me ! ’ ” 

I Then she went back to her tent, but not to 
sleep : only to wrestle and pray that she be 
vouchsafed a sign whereby she might know 
the will of Heaven. 


1 


140 


A Cuban Amazon, 


CHAPTER XIV. 

“ Great men are not always wise.” — Bible. 

“ The words of his mouth were smoother than 
butter, but war was in his heart.” — Bible. 

K 

“Thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed.” 

— Ibid. 

Early the next morning the Cuban band 
was up and moving. Almost every individual 
felt regret at leaving this little dell, where 
they had rested and slept in such peace and 
security. One exception was the wretched 
Evangeline Cisneros. Sleep had not kissed 
her eyelids into rest that night, nor had white- 
winged Peace visited her to soothe the tor- 
tured soul that writhed in torment, agonized 
upon its cross of duty, self-immolated. 

All through the long hours, when about her 
tent could be heard the soft breathing of the 
women and children, and farther away the 
deeper respirations of the men, worn out with 
the long hot march, she longed for sleep ; but 
no sleep would come to her, and she arose 
next morning, pale and heavy-eyed. 

Alvarez was the first to salute her when she 


A Ctiban Amazon, 


141 

appeared, and taking the place beside her, 
kept it when the march began. He was 
assiduous, but not obtrusive, in his attentions, 
although they were so marked as to attract 
the attention of Calleo, whose keen but 
kindly eyes glanced sharply at Alvarez, and 
then traveled to Evangeline’s face, where 
they rested for a moment ; but the old soldier 
sighed, and shook his head. All day long 
the face of Evangeline kept that worn, hag- 
gard, half startled look, and for the first time 
since she had taken her place as their leader 
she seemed to become uncertain of herself, 
and her commands lacked the decisive ring that 
had always characterized them. Fortunately 
the day was totally uneventful, save for the 
regular routine of the march, and the com- 
mands she needed to issue were few. So the 
day passed away — Alvarez keeping at the 
side of Evangeline, supplying every deficiency 
in so gentle and faithful a manner that no one 
could find fault with any act of his. 

That night they reached the old encamp- 
ment, and finding that the cave was not large 
enough to contain the now greatly increased 
crowd of women and children, they decided 
to build a village on the site of the encamp- 
ment. The six men left behind when Evan- 


142 


A Cuban Amazon. 


geline set out for Santa F4 reported that all 
had been quiet during her absence, save once 
when a small party had left Nueva Gerona. 
They had been fired upon when they came 
within range, and had hurriedly retreated to 
the town. They reported also that during the 
day they had seen flashes from the town, 
which seemed to be answered by similar 
flashes from the mainland of Cuba. 

At this news Evangeline paled, for she 
understood at once that the heliograph had 
been at work summoning reinforcements to 
the Governor’s assistance, which in all proba- 
bility were even now on their way. What 
could she do? Nothing save wait. For the 
men were too exhausted by the long march to 
be of any service in attacking a superior 
force. She permitted them to rest the entire 
day, for she knew they must needs husband 
all their strength in preparation for the strug- 
gle to come. 

She sent a messenger to her father, request- 
ing his presence without delay. Cisneros, 
after giving orders to those in the cave to 
make all preparations for a speedy departure, 
hurried away and was soon in the camp. He 
agreed with the leaders fully as to the advisa- 
bility of sending the women and children 


A Cuban A?nazon, 


H3 

into the hills, and proposed, in addition, that 
the Spanish prisoners be released on parole 
and sent to Nueva Gerona. This was done, 
and Don Felipe and his men were escorted 
within sight of the town by a small Cuban 
force, which straightway, its work being 
done, hurried back. 

Just before the departure of the Spaniards, 
Alvarez, unnoticed, held quite a conversation 
with Don Felipe, which seemed to please the 
latter immensely. After the departure of the 
prisoners, Cisneros and his daughter, being 
alone, had a long confidential talk, during 
which Evangeline told her father of the 
words of Alvarez. The old man listened in 
surprise. This was something so foreign to 
every thought, to every emotion, that would 
have been his under like conditions, that he 
was unable to decide in his own mind what 
was the best course to pursue. Over and 
over again he turned the question. To talk 
of love to Evangeline, to weigh the pros and 
cons of marriage, seemed to Cisneros — whose 
conscience was tender as that of a good and 
pure woman — like discussing these same ques- 
tions with a widow beside the coffin of her 
husband, or with a young nun the loss of 
whose love had sent her to the cloister for 
solace and balm for her broken heart. 


144 


A Cuban Amazon. 


He sat silent so long that at length Evan- 
geline touched him upon the shoulder, saying 
gently, “Well, my father? ” 

He placed his hand upon the dark head and 
passed it lovingly over the heavy braids of 
hair ; at length with an effort he said : 

“ My daughter, you know how much your 
father hates falsehood and dissimulation ; but 
an old philosophy with us says, ‘ Fight the 
devil with fire,’ and in this case you can only 
meet dissimulation with dissimulation. I can 
not believe, my child, that Lieutenant Alva- 
rez is truthful in his love-making. Under- 
stand me aright : He is a man whose schemes 
are deep and carefully laid ; and though you 
are fair enough to stir the blood of even so 
deep a schemer as he, still the surrounding 
circumstances are such that a true lover, a 
man who truly desired to make the woman 
his wife, would not speak now. Instead, he 
would strive to keep beside the loved one 
through the coming strife and danger, and 
when all was once more peace and quiet, 
then, and not until then, make offer of his 
heart and hand, and beg of the woman so 
loved to help him found a home and build up 
a land so blasted by the blazing hand of war.” 

“All this have I said to him, fadre mio.^ 
and he will not listen.” 


A Cuban Amazon, 145 

“ Showing that his schemes are paramount. 
Poor, dear child! We seem to be followed 
everywhere by ill fortune. Hardly are you 
freed from the hands of one enemy before you 
ar.e thrown into those of another, who can not 
be trusted but must be conciliated because he 
is indispensable. And now comes the part 
from which my soul shrinks in loathing even 
as I give the advice. There is but one thing 
to be done, so far as I can see, and that is to 
dally with this man Alvarez, seeming to agree 
to what he asks, yet never committing your- 
self.” 

Every fiber of Evangeline’s being rebelled 
at the distasteful course proposed by her 
father ; but she had offered herself as a sac- 
rifice on the altar of her country, so with an 
aching heart she promised obedience, as she 
saw no better way out of the quandary. But 
of one thing she was determined, namely, that 
as soon as the Cubans had sufficiently strength- 
ened themselves to feel comparatively safe, or 
at an earlier opportunity should it be pre- 
sented, she would rid herself in some way of 
the unwelcome presence of Alvarez. 

“Very padre mio,, for the sake of all 

involved, for the sake of Cuba Libre,, I will 
10 


146 A Cuban Amazon. 

try to follow your advice ; but oh ! you can’t 
guess how I hate him !” 

And even as the girl and her father talked 
the star of an evil fate, which had so persis- 
tently hung over their lives, still cast its bale- 
ful gleam upon them, though they knew it not. 
Alvarez had seen the two as they stood in the 
tent door, and his false heart had whispered to 
him that their conversation was of him. 
Softly he had slipped from tree to tree, from 
bush to bush, until he gained a position where 
he could once more enact his familiar role of 
eavesdropper. He listened quietly, but an 
ugly look stole over his face at Evangeline’s 
last words. 

“So, my lady,” he sneered, “you hate me, 
do you? Well, there’s no love lost between 
us. By the Eternal, Berrez shall have my 
help in bringing you to your knees and if 
between us we do not bow your haughty head, 
I miss my guess.” 

Thus determined in his course of treachery, 
he at once set out to perfect the plans which he 
had matured for the betrayal of the entire Cuban 
force. Silently he stole away from the spot, 
and that night he glided unseen past the sen- 
tries on the watch, hurrying straight to the 
town of Nueva Gerona. Presenting himself 


A Cuban Amazon, 


147 


at the fort, he demanded that he be taken im- 
mediately to the Governor’s quarters, where 
he found Berrez and Don Felipe awaiting 
him. Briefly he explained his errand, and ar- 
ranged for future signals and the transmission 
of dispatches until the time should be ripe for 
the consummation of his plot. Then he hurried 
back to the patriot camp and stole in before 
any one had noticed his absence. 


T48 


A Cuban Amazon, 


CHAPTER XV. 

“ Soft eyes looked love to eyes that spake again.” 

— Byron. 

“ The brazen throat of war.” — Milton. 

” All days are dangerous in war.” — Dryden. 

Just at daybreak the camp began getting 
in motion, and the entire force was ordered to 
advance as if to attack Nueva Gerona, but in 
reality to cover the retreat of the women and 
children from the cave. About ten o’clock 
word was passed along that the retreat from 
the cave had been accomplished and the Cubans 
again retired. Berrez did not institute any 
pursuit, for he feared an ambush on account of 
the perfect order in which the retreat was 
effected. 

The Cubans bivouacked that night on the 
spot they had chosen for the site of their vil- 
lage. The rejoicing was general, and all save 
the sentries gave themselves up to the pleasure 
of a dance. Not even the precarious exist- 
ence they led could prevent their keen enjoy- 
ment of a sport that is to them a second na- 
ture. The Amazons even — so general was the 


A Cuban Amazon. 149 

joy — abandoned for the time their military 
firmness and became the women that nature 
had intended them to be. 

Evangeline only did not join in the festivi- 
ties, but stood apart from the others, \yith her 
father beside her, and watched them disport 
themselves. After gazing at them in silence 
for some moments, she turned to her father, 
saying : “ Truly, I must be entirely different 
from other women, my father! It seems to 
me, as I look upon these women coquetting, 
laughing, trying all their pretty little fascina- 
tions on the men about them, that there must 
be an entire absence of either heart or judg- 
ment to be able to thus pluck enjoyment out 
of the very soul and centre of disaster and 
misery.” 

“Nay, Evangeline; grudge them not the 
enjoyment they win, the forgetfulness they 
purchase from the sorrow that is sure to come. 
Poor souls! — and yet not poor; rather rich 
and happy, thus to be able to put aside the 
sorrows and anxieties of the hour. It seems 
to me that they are to be envied, not pitied.” 

But the girl’s heart was ever gloomy and 
sad, and a shudder passed through her as she 
remembered that these might be the last mo- 
ments of happiness for her unfortunate fol- 


A Cuban Amazon. 


150 

lowers. Alas ! how cruel had been these past 
few weeks ; and the end was not yet ! 

“Father, I wish I could forget, if only for 
an hour; but I can not. And last night I 
dreamed of Carlos. I thought he came to me, 
and tried to warn me of coming trouble ; but 
though he used every effort to make me com- 
prehend, the fact of coming trouble was all 
that I could understand, save now and then 
the name of Alvarez. If only he were gone, 
or we were in safety, or ” — and the dark eyes 
grew troubled — “ at rest.’’ 

“ Cara mia, you are morbid. Your suffer- 
ings have been great, my child, but strength 
to endure has been granted you. And think, 
my darling, how great the honor to you, to 
me, to our name, if you are instrumental in 
freeing Cuba.” 

Evangeline shook her head sadly : ‘ ‘ God 
knows I wish it — as He knows that I am 
ready to offer myself for my country, when- 
ever and wherever and however I can serve 
or save her. But, my father, Evangeline 
Cisneros has yet a long and thorny path to 
walk, e’er she reach her hill of Calvary. My 
days of happiness are ended, and I am content 
that it is so. If only Fate will leave us to- 
gether to the end — that is my only prayer. 


A Cuban Amazon, 


next to the yearning of my soul for the free- 
dom of my beloved Cuba. 

Cisneros looked at her long and searchingly : 
“Are you not well, my child?” he asked 
gently. 

“ Quite well, my father, and I am not hid- 
ing any new sorrow from you ; but oh ! 
Padre 7nio — I long for peace and joy and 
‘ the days that are no more ! ’ ” 

The old man had no words of comfort for 
her sorrow. He realized, as no one else save 
Evangeline herself — and perhaps the keen eye 
of Alvarez — that only patriotism the purest, 
and the intoxication of excitement, were 
keeping the girl from collapse. She was not 
born to nor was she fitted for such a life. 
Her tastes were ever dainty and domestic, 
and blood and war and misery and death 
stamped such an impression upon her soul as 
nothing could wipe out. The same “ Bird of 
Freedom” that should — Heaven willing! — 
perch upon the banners of “ Cuba Libre” — 
would also scream out a requiem over the bier 
of Evangeline Cisneros ! 

As she turned away wearily she saw the face 
of the man that, despite all her efforts to over- 
come, she yet despised next to that of Berrez 
— Lieutenant Alvarez, He, too, had not 


152 A Cuban Amazon. 

joined in the festivities, but was watching 
them from the side with an evil smile on his 
dark handsome countenance. The same feel- 
ing of deathly faintness that invariably came 
over her at all times when she saw Alvarez 
came now, but she forced it back and asked : 

“Senor, why are you not merry with the 
rest?” 

“Ah, Senorita,” came his reply, the dark 
face growing instantly serious, “like you, I 
am so filled with plans and anxieties and sad- 
ness that there is no place in my soul for such 
enjoyments. I can only stand here apart, 
wondering how many of those poor fools yon- 
der will ever again feel the spark of joy kindle 
within them ! ’ ’ 

A chill ran through the girl as she listened, 
for his words seemed like an echo to her own 
broodings. Yet she hesitated to clothe those 
same broodings in words to him. She could 
never for a moment put away the feeling that 
he was an enemy ; and the words falling from 
his lips sounded like a threat to the sensitive 
ear of Evangeline. 

“ But, Senor, why should they not? If one 
can win forgetfulness, if for only a moment, 
why should he not do so? Who would rob 
him of it? Not I, for one.” 


A Cuban Amazon. 153 

“Nor I, for another,” he said, echoing her 
words, but the smile accompanying them was 
not a pleasant one. 

“ Why should fate be so unkind as to rob 
these poor creatures, whose hearts are so left 
by nature that they find pleasure in life when 
others find only pain? Why, I say, is fate so 
unkind as to beggar them of house, home, 
land, everthing, and mayhap even of life it- 
self? Is it not cruel ?” 

“ The fortunes of war,” he answered tersely, 
and turning on his heel with a sardonic laugh, 
he left her, muttering to himself : “ Wait, and 
you shall see that with all your father’s coun- 
sel, the game is still in my hands.” 

The festivities continued until midnight, 
when all retired, thoroughly worn out, and 
silence hung unbroken over the camp. Mean- 
while Berrez was debating within himself as 
to the course be should pursue. He saw that 
to move with the force then at his command 
would be foolhardy, and he was not the man 
to take chances. He contented himself with 
sending out scouts at intervals, thus keeping 
posted with regard to the movements of the 
Cubans. The heliograph was again brought 
into requisition, and a reply was received from 
Weyler stating that the troops requested were 


154 ^ Cuban Amazon, 

even now on their way from the mainland ; 
and until their arrival he had made up his 
mind to act strictly on the defensive. 

Great was his annoyance and chagrin, there- 
fore, at the arrival of Don Felipe and his party 
with the news of the capture and destruction 
of Santa F6. So severe was he in his de- 
nunciations and criticism of the methods of 
Don Felipe that only the better judgment of 
the latter prevented serious consequences. 

“So,” cried Berrez, leaping to his feet 
when Don Felipe had finished his recital, “so ! 
Thou didst sit calmly down and permit this — 
this — this wanton girl to possess herself of thee 
and thy town! Surely, a brave act!” 

“ Your Excellency wrongs me ; and I trust 
the wrong is not intentional. No man, living 
or dead, has ever cast a doubt upon the char- 
acter of Don Felipe!” and he drew up his 
fine soldierly figure proudly. 

“Wrong thee! Wrong thee! Why, any 
boy of ten could have lost Santa Fe as grace- 
fully and as bravely as thou hast done ! By 
the Lord above us ! and I had the power, Don 
though thou art, never again shouldst thou 
carry a sword. 

The Don’s cheek paled even through its 
bronze, and his lips trembled. “Your Ex- 


A Cuban Amazon. 155 

cellency ! Let us understand each other 
clearly. If you intend saying or intimating 
that I failed in any or every particular, or 
that I and my men ‘ permitted ’ the fort of 
Santa Fd to be ‘ taken,’ then you must re- 
tract your words, or by the powers above us 
Spain will have one less commander before 
another sun sets ! ” 

“Must, Don Felipe! must, and to me, the 
Governor! You forget yourself ! ” 

“ Nay, your Excellency, you have forgotten 
yourself to cast any aspersion upon my char- 
acter. We were surprised and overpowered; 
numbers macheted without an instant’s de- 
lay. If I was to blame in aught, it was in not 
surrendering sooner, and thus saving the lives 
of more of my men. It was unfortunate, but 
no more my fault or due to my lack of cour- 
age than was the partial destruction of Nueva 
Gerona and the burning of your residence due 
to lack of bravery and foresight upon the part 
of your Excellency. Therefore is it that I can 
not and will not accept the hard, unjust, and 
utterly false words your Excellency spoke but 
now ! ” 

Berrez was a bully, and that species of 
human animal is always a coward ; and as he 
gazed at the brave soldier before him, visions 


A Cuban Amazon, 


156 

of a flashing sword in the hands of the finest 
swordsman in Cuba danced before his eyes. 
His fury at the loss of Santa F^, and to this 
girl whom he so hated, was none the less 
boundless ; but he realized that he had said 
too much. Turning to Don Felipe, he said : 

‘‘Pardon me, Senor, for my hasty words. 
None who knows Don Caesar di Felipe di^^ 
Castro can doubt either his bravery or his 
honor ! That I should seriously regret Santa 
Fe is but natural. Let us forget our own 
feelings, and see how we may best undo the 
mistakes made ” — he hesitated, and then went 
on — “ by both.” 

Don Felipe bowed profoundly, and began 
at once conversing upon other matters. At 
that instant Alvarez was ushered into the 
room. Long and earnest was their conversa- 
tion, and Berrez was greatly cheered by the 
words of Alvarez, for he now saw his way 
clearly to the gratifying of his heart’s desire 
for vengeance, even to satiety. Gaily he 
planned the capture of Evangeline and the 
entire Cuban force ; and the longer the delay 
of the troops from Havana in reaching Nueva 
Gerona, the more fiendish and devilish the 
details of the plot he wove. 


A Cuban Amazon^ 


157 


CHAPTER XVI. 

** War, war is still the cry — * War even to the knife.’ ” 

— Byron. 

“ Revolutions never go backward.” 

— Wendell Phillips. 

On receiving notice that the troops were on 
their way from the mainland, Berrez made 
elaborate plans for their reception, and formu- 
lated schemes in detail which the treachery of 
Alvarez enabled him to carry out so success- 
fully. 

Early the morning following the visit of 
Alvarez to the Governor at Nueva Gerona, 
the Cubans sent out a party of scouts to ob- 
serve the movements of the Spaniards. In- 
stead, however, of contenting themselves with 
the fulfillment of their scouting duties, they 
made a rash attack on Nueva Gerona from 
the south, and were repulsed with the loss of 
twenty-five killed, wounded, and made pris- 
oners — a loss the patriots could ill afford at 
this juncture. 

On the return of this party to the Cuban 
camp their captain was summoned before the 


A Cuban Amazon, 


158 

council of officers and severely criticised for 
transcending his authority. But they were 
brave men and brave women, these officers ; 
and with their dead yet unburied, another and 
a stronger party was dispatched under Calleo 
and Rodriguez, with orders to post a chain of 
pickets around Nueva Gerona and to block- 
ade the town, permitting no one either to en- 
ter or leave it. The Spanish and Cuban losses 
about equaled each other. 

Several days went by, each a repetition of 
that gone before, until at length the Cubans 
called another council ; and after many argu- 
ments both for and against, it was decided to 
attack Nueva Gerona the next night. Recall- 
ing the pickets that they might be given time 
to rest, they proceeded with their prepara- 
tions for the assault. In order to make the 
attack more effective the assault was to be 
made simultaneously on the sides; Alvarez 
commanding the right, Calleo the left, and 
Evangeline the center. 

Machetes were given an extra edge, axes 
were sharpened for cutting down wire fences, 
while to every third man was given a bottle 
of oil for incendiary purposes. At eight 
o’clock the three detachments were set in 
motion. Calico’s attack on the left side was 


A Cuban Amazon. 159 

the first to be opened, quickly followed by a 
charge from Evangeline’s followers in the 
center. It was something more than half an 
hour before the attack commenced on the 
right. 

Meanwhile the other two wings suffered a 
temporary repulse. But when the right 
attacked, the Spanish attention was distracted 
from the center, and Evangeline, who now 
had only forty men and thirty women left, 
succeeded in breaking a way through and in 
capturing the fort, at the same time killing 
over fifty of the Spaniards. Berrez, seeing 
the disaster which had overtaken him in the 
center, ordered a retreat to the central block- 
house, and, barricading the street, prepared 
to defend it. The place was indeed admirably 
chosen, the entrance of the street wide, the 
further end contracted and like a cul-de-sac, 
the cross street throttling it. The band who 
defended it were brave men — none could deny 
that. There was one who cried: “Let us 
exterminate to the last man, and die on the 
points of our bayonets ! ” 

They fought desperately, wickedly, and 
with a determination to hold out until help 
came. They were sure of help by three 
o’clock in the morning, and so desperate was 


i6o A Cuban Amazon. 

their resistance that, although the Cubans 
attacked the barricade again and again, it was 
in vain, and finally they were drawn off, leav- 
ing the Spaniards masters of the situation. 
An order was issued to burn all the houses not 
within range of the barricade, while the 
Cuban sharpshooters kept up a brisk fire on 
the Spanish stoccado^ thus preventing a sortie. 
When the Cuban wings united again, Alvarez 
received a sharp and severe reproof for his 
negligence and delay in attacking the Spanish 
forces at the proper moment. 

The night’s work had been far from satis- 
factory. Out of two hundred and fifty who 
had set out that night, but one hundred and 
forty remained unhurt, the brave Calleo being 
numbered among the wounded. Evangeline 
ordered the dead and wounded brought in, and 
decided, in her own mind, to await the com- 
ing of the morning before taking further 
steps. The dead were hastily buried, and 
the wounded sent to the hills. This done, 
Evangeline summoned her council, and asked 
their advice whether or not to pursue the 
plan she had determined upon, and recom- 
mence the attack on the town or give it up 
and retire. It was unanimously voted to at- 
tack in full force and, if possible, to force 


A Cuban Amazon. i6i 

their enemies either to surrender, or else drive 
them into the sea. 

Daylight appeared, and the Cubans again 
marched to the attack ; but hardly had it 
commenced when, to their intense dismay, 
they saw a large vessel, flying the Spanish 
flag at the masthead, steaming into the bay. 
It was “ Reina Christina,” sent by Weyler. 
Immediately a boat filled with soldiers put off 
from the steamer’s side, and opened fire with 
shot and shell on the Cubans, who halted 
panic-stricken at the sight. An immediate 
retreat was ordered, and the now hopeless and 
desperate handful of men and women — all 
that was left of the proud force that had 
hoped to put down Spanish tyranny — made 
their way back to the camp they had left on 
the evening before in such gay spirits. 

Evangeline, with her small force decimated, 
was now thrown for her entire dependence 
upon the counsels of Alvarez. At his re- 
. quest, the secret entrance to the cave was 
^ shown him. Even when everything was 
most prosperous with the Cubans, a some- 
thing— call it instinctive mistrust, dislike, 
doubt, call it what you will — had made them 
withhold this knowledge from him. Hence 
this had never been shown him ; but now in 
1 1 


i 62 


A Cuban Amazon. 


the hour of their need, when some one must 
think quickly and act promptly, Alvarez was 
admitted to their confidence, and the entire 
party placed at the mercy of the traitor. 
Alas ! greater mercy would have been shown 
them, and they would have had less to fear, 
had the wild pumas and jaguars from the hills 
been placed as guards round their camp. 
These they could have met in fair and open 
slaughter, but never could they thus meet Al- 
varez, the traitor. 

Earthworks were thrown up around their 
position, and a messenger was sent in the 
greatest haste with orders to gain the main 
land, if in any way possible, and, laying be- 
fore General Gomez their desperate condition, 
bring back reinforcements and a vessel to 
carry them from the island. 


A Cuban A?nazon, 


163 


CHAPTER XVII. 

“ Their fatal hands no second stroke intend.” 

— Milton. 

” Confusion worse confounded.” — Ibid. 

” The beginning of the end.” 

That night the final scenes in this life- 
tragedy began. 

The day had passed in such despair as 
comes to mankind only when behind is deso- 
lation, destruction, demolition ; while before, 
that which makes them almost doubt the 
goodness and mercy of God — the stake, sla- 
very, chains ; and when the flesh rebels under 
the cruel lash, the whip again and again 
applied, until the pitying Angel of Death, 
kissing the moans from off the blood-flecked 
lips, presses the finger of silence upon them, 
and they complain no more ! 

And Thou, O merciful Christ ! Thou didst 
die that all men might live ; and dying, cried : 
“ Father, forgive them; they know not what 
they do!” 

When midnight had unrolled her banner 
over the dark purple of the southern sky. 


164 


A Cuban Amazon. 


where in pale steady beauty shone the southern 
cross, and while those who, worn out and 
terror-stricken through the day, soothed by 
the calmness of night now lay down in peace 
and trust, shots were heard and flames were 
seen rising from the hills where the women 
and children were encamped. 

A cry of mortal agony burst from the 
breasts of the tortured Cubans! They re- 
membered now when it was too late that 
there had been no guard posted upon the 
southern hills, and consequently there was no 
one to guard the village. The Spaniards had 
landed there — with the help of the cruiser — 
six hundred of their force, and'attacking the 
defenseless Cubans slaughtered all who offered 
resistance, and sneering at the tears and pray- 
ers of the younger women, the unfortunate 
creatures, together with the children — merci- 
ful God ! — were ruthlessly outraged ! 

By the orders of Berrez, all under ten years 
of age were macheted, and such atrocities 
committed by the Spaniards as would have 
shamed the barbarity of the Indian savage. 
Too awful for words were the emotions of the 
Cuban fathers and husbands as they witnessed 
these scenes from the distance. Some in a 
frenzy ran to throw themselves, in hopelessly 


A Cuban A?nazon. 


i6s 

impotent despair, upon the swords of the 
Spanish outposts ; others drew their revolvers 
and fired the bullets into their own brains ; 
others again fell upon their own machetes and 
ended lives that had become too heavy to bear ! 

Even the most sanguine saw that the end 
was coming fast, and that the denouement 
was close at hand. With daybreak, compa- 
nies of Spaniards were seen advancing to the 
attack. With a bravery born of desperation 
Evangeline determined to make a last despair- 
ing stand, knowing as she did the fate that 
awaited her if she fell alive into the hands of 
Berrez. The Cubans took their position on the 
summit of a hill which formed a small natural 
redoubt that would have been well nigh im- 
pregnable had it been supplied with artillery. 
The Spaniards attacked in columns, rushing 
up the hill with cries of “ Viva Espanolel ” 
only to be mowed down like grain by the 
rapid fire of the little band of defenders. 
Again and again was the attack renewed — 
Berrez commanding in person — only to be 
driven back, leaving the Spanish soldiers 
covering the hillside. On the summit, guid- 
ing and directing the men, was Evangeline ; 
her pale face, with the dark eyes so filled with 
despair, seeming to her followers an inspira- 


i66 


A Cuban Amazon. 


tion, while for the Spaniards it was the face 
of a Nemesis. At length the sun, which was 
now high in the heavens, beat down so fiercely 
upon the heads of the Spaniards that they 
were forced to retire, having lost one hun- 
dred and fifty-eight men in five hours. 

Evangeline ordered her men to retire under 
cover and rest, for she well knew that the at- 
tack would be renewed before nightfall. The 
Cuban loss in killed and seriously wounded 
amounted to twenty. There were also ten 
who were slightly wounded, but these were 
obliged to retain their arms by the desperate- 
ness of their cause. About two o’clock loud 
cheers and cries were heard in the Spanish 
camp. The sailors from the cruiser had 
landed, bringing with them three field guns. 
These were immediately placed in position 
and trained upon the Cubans. Fire was 
opened from them, and at about five o’clock 
the Spanish forces attacked again, but were 
once more repulsed, although at one time the 
summit of the redoubt was gained. At that 
moment, however, a savage charge was made 
by the remaining Amazons, With their long 
black hair flying like banners behind them — 
and the wild cry of ‘ ‘ Death to the Spaniard ! 

Viva Cuba Libre! ” — they swept on, as must 


A Cuban Amazon, 167 

have swept the “ Walkerie ” in the days when 
men and gods fought together. 

Their wild charge saved the Cubans for the 
time being, and drove the Spaniards down the 
hillside. The loss of life on the Cuban side, 
however, was appalling ; more than fifty fell, 
crying with their last breath, “ Viva Cuba 
Libre! ” 

The Spaniards fell back, and with the ex- 
ception of the artillery, which kept up a con- 
tinual stream of shells, the entire party ceased 
firing. Evangeline now realized that her po- 
sition was untenable, for out of the entire 
Cuban force but twenty-three were left. She 
looked around for Alvarez, but he was gone. 
Again that fearful sinking of the heart, that 
suspicion that was absolutely sickening in its 
intensity flashed over her, and she ordered 
search to be made for his body, knowing that 
if he had fallen at his post of duty the fact 
would soon be demonstrated. Not a trace of 
the absent lieutenant was found, although the 
search was long and diligent. 

At last, however, they came upon an unfor- 
tunate sentry with Alvarez’ machete still 
piercing his heart where the hand of the vile 
traitor had driven it. Attached to the hilt of 
the machete was a bit of paper on which had 


A Cuban Amazon. 


1 68 

been hastily scrawled: “ Senorita, since the 
sight of me is so obnoxious, and since you 
‘draw me on,’ only to use me as a tool, never 
‘committing yourself ’ in the slightest, it seems 
to me the time has come to say ^adios.^ Fear 
not, Senorita, you and I will meet again. 
Until then, ^adios.^ 

“ Your profound admirer, 

“ Guellermo Alvarez.” 

Loud were the oaths of vengeance sworn 
against the traitor who was even then safe in 
the Spanish camp. Evangeline’s face grew 
seamed with pain as she read it. When fin- 
ished she lifted her tearless eyes, filled with a 
despair born of such agony as few women en- 
dure, thank God, and murmured : 

“Oh, my Cuba, my beloved land ! how has 
the hand of affliction been laid upon thee ! 
Alas, if in any way I have caused the loss of 
one single son or daughter of thine, on my 
wretched head be the result ! Make me the 
scape-goat! Spare Cuba!” 

She quickly gave orders for an instant dash 
for the cave, where she fancied they would be 
safe ; for in the excitement and worry of the 
moment she failed to remember that Alvarez 
had been entrusted with that secret. Before 
leaving, and in the face of doom, every man 


A Cuban Amazon, 


169 


and every woman swore that the traitor, Alva- 
rez, should die ; and should he fall into the 
hands of any one of the patriots, he was to be 
put to death at once. 

For a time everything seemed to favor the 
Cubans. The night was dark as the darkest 
Egypt ever saw. Even during the plague of 
darkness that was sent upon her, she had no 
night that could overmatch this one ; besides, 
there were showers during which the rain 
came down in sheets, covering their retreat to 
the cave and completely effacing their tracks. 
Meanwhile the Spaniards sent a flag of truce 
to the deserted redoubt to demand surrender ; 
but great was their surprise and disappoint- 
ment to find it evacuated. Berrez was almost 
beside himself with rage at the escape of his 
prey, and when the orderly brought him word 
that the redoubt was empty, he cried out ; 

“ By God, if that girl has escaped me 
again, you shall answer for it with your life ! 
Where in the name of all the fiends of hell 
has she gone? If ever I get my fingers on 
her, she will never again escape me ! I tell 
you, I’d rather lose a dozen battles than my 
chance of revenge on that imp of death and 
damnation ! Fool, why do you stand there 
staring at me? Go! and woe betide you, if 


170 


A Cuban Amazon. 


the next time you come to me you bring 
evil tidings.” 

The poor orderly stood as if turned to 
stone. “Go, thou dullard! Go!” and 
drawing his pistol from his belt, Berrez fired, 
just missing the man’s head as the door closed 
between him and his tormentor. Rushing 
into the hall, all unseeing and anxious only to 
get away in time, the unlucky orderly ran 
against and almost knocked down Lieutenant 
Alvarez, who, in the uniform of a Spanish 
captain, was on his way to visit the Governor. 

“ What the devil do you mean, sir, by run- 
ning against me in any such unseemly fashion ? 
Are you crazy that you leave a room thus ? ’ ’ 

The poor fellow looked in amazement at 
Alvarez. He knew that at the time of his 
last visit Alvarez wore the Cuban uniform, 
while now 

The doughty Captain interrupted his 

thoughts with : ‘ ‘ What the h 1 are you 

looking at me for, in that impudent manner? 
Don’t you know me from one time to the 
next? ” and Alvarez drew himself up proudly. 

“No, sir. It’s seldom we see a soldier 
change his uniform so often, sir.” 

Insolente ! he cried, but cooled down 
quickly and said: “Take me to his Excel- 


A Cuban Amazon, 


171 

lency. I have good news for him. Lead on.” 

The orderly looked dubious at first, but at 
the words “ good news,” his face underwent 
a change, and he led Alvarez into the presence 
of the Governor. Berrez was tramping up 
and down his apartments like a caged animal. 
He stopped, looked over his shoulder, and 
said sharply : 

“Well! What news.?” 

‘ ‘ The very best ! ’ ’ 

Berrez turned, as if by some unseen power- 
ful force, and almost shouted : “ You’ve got 

the creature ! When ? Where ? ’ ’ 

“ Not so fast, not so fast, your Excellency. 
Pray consider! How could I, unaided and 
alone, have brought any human being, and 
least of all that lives, Evangeline Cisneros, 
here to Nueva Gerona! ” 

“True, but where is she? Alvarez, my 
fingers tingle to get hold of her ! ’ ’ 
“Doubtless, mon Governor!''^ 

“Well! Well! Where is she? Take me 
there! ” 

“Once more I must remind your Excel- 
lency that one must ‘make haste slowly;” 
and never was the wisdom of the saw better 
exemplified than now. I have taken no one 
captor! How could I do so? But I have 


172 


A Cuban Amazon. 


them all where I can trap them and give them 
into the hands of your soldiers whenever you 
will fix the time! ” Thereupon he explained 
to Berrez the situation of the case, and ex- 
pressed himself as ready at any time to lead 
the Spaniards to the hiding place of the Cu- 
bans. 

After some further planning and plotting^ 
between the traitor and the vile Berrez, they 
fixed upon a time when the stronghold of 
the Cubans should be given into the hands 
of the Spaniards. 


A Cuban Amazon, 


^73 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

“ Food for powder, food for powder! ” 

— Shakkspkark, 
“Full bravelj hast thou fleshed 
Thy maiden sword.” — Ibid. 

“ Eyes, look your last! 

Arms, take your last embrace ! ” — Ibid. 

All reached the cave in safety, and strange 
as it may seem, not even yet did any one of 
the party remember that Alvarez knew the 
secret of their retreat, and all went to sleep 
with a feeling of perfect security. 

Evangeline and her father spent the day in 
the cave ministering to the wounded. When 
evening came a scout was sent out, who re- 
turned with the information that a dance was 
in progress among the Spaniards at the site of 
the former Cuban encampment. The Cuban 
women who had been captured were forced to 
join in the festivities, and a careless watch 
was kept, only a few sentries being posted. 
This news was remarkable, and Evangeline 
and her father expressed the fear that there 
was something more behind all this mask of 


174 


A Cuban Amazon. 


gaiety. Both felt quite sure that it was a ruse 
on the part of the Spaniards to draw them 
from their hiding place. 

Berrez, by the advice of Alvarez, gave or- 
ders for the Spanish festivities, and called in 
the outposts and pickets. A small party of 
Spaniards was sent to watch the entrance to 
the cave, with strict injunctions to molest no 
one, an exception being made in the case of 
Evangeline. If possible she was to be seized ; 
otherwise they were on no account to permit 
themselves to be seen. Having posted his 
men, Alvarez with two companies entered the 
valley, and after locating the various entrances 
he commenced with great care to remove the 
outer obstructions until by night all was ready 
for his damnable work. 

The plans of Alvarez had been well ar- 
ranged, for he was in possession of a complete 
plan of the cave drawn by himself, showing 
even the outlets which had been blocked up. 
At ten o’clock Alvarez returned to the Span- 
ish camp, and at the command of Berrez there 
was a cessation of festivities, and word was 
passed around for all to get under arms. At 
eleven five hundred men were on the march, 
Berrez in command arid Alvarez acting as 
guide. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


175 

Silently like shadows the Spaniards advanced 
and surrounded every outlet of the cave. Down 
the passages they crept, led by Alvarez, until 
they reached the large chamber where the 
wounded men tossed and raved in their suffer- 
ings, while the twenty-three who were still 
unhurt sleptly soundly in the centre of the 
room. 

At a signal Berrez came forward, and Alva- 
rez informed him that all was ready ; and with 
a horrible oath the Governor shouted / ” 

In response to this command a volley was 
poured in upon the sleeping men, taking 
them so completely by surprise that little or 
no resistance was made, save where a few 
attempted to escape and were shot down by 
the guard. Cisneros heard the firing and 
rushed from his small cave-chamber, only to 
fall with a bullet wound in the shoulder and 
another in the thigh. Evangeline ran to his 
assistance and dragged him out of range, 
where she hastily bound up his wounds. She^ 
was about to rise when Alvarez rushed forward 
and seized her before she could resist. i 

But not yet was Evangeline Cisneros to fall 
into the hands of these jackals. Before Alva- 
rez could make another move he was hurled 
from the girl by young Rodriguez, who cried : 


176 


A Cuban Amazon. 


“ Thank God for this much mercy, that I 
can avenge myself and my comrades upon 
you, you vilest of vile traitors! ” 

The machete of the avenger flashed through 
the air and fell upon the prostrate traitor, 
killing him instantly. Kicking the body 
aside, he rushed to the opening of the cave, 
only to find himself facing the gleaming muz- 
zles of twenty rifles. Seeing that resistance 
and flight were alike useless, Rodriguez 
yielded. A moment after his hands had been 
bound, Berrez came up to the prisoner and 
thanked him for having relieved him of the 
painful necessity , of ridding himself of the 
traitor Alvarez. 

“ I owe you something for having rid the 
world of the vilest traitor in it,” he said. 

Young Rodriguez bowed, but said nothing. 
A moment later Berrez ordered that Rodri- 
guez be immediately shot for slaying one of 
the best of the Spanish officers. Then turn- 
ing to the prisoner, he said with a snarl : 
“ Thus I discharge my debt to you.” 

During all this time Evangeline looked on 
in bewilderment. The shock of the last few 
moments had almost stunned her ; but when 
she heard the sentence of death passed on 
Rodriguez, whose brave young soul was filled 


A Cuban Amazon. 


177 


with love of country, and who with no 
thought of self offered his young life upon its 
altar, her heart ached with passionate pity ; and 
she, who would never have dreamed of plead- 
ing for her own life, now rushed forward to 
Berrez and besought him to spare that of the 
young man. But the soul of Berrez was of 
so filthy mold that he knew no more of virtue 
than do wallowing swine of cleanliness ; so he 
mocked her and sneered at her, saying it was 
the life of another lover for which she begged. 

Berrez’ taunts were so false and so unjust 
that Evangeline could bear them without a 
murmur if only he would spare this brave 
young life. As for Rodriguez, his face grew 
livid with anger. 

“You pitiful creature!” he said. “You 
thing too vile to be called a man ! That 
woman is so immeasurably your superior that 
you should not be permitted to breathe the 
same air with her! Evangeline Cisneros — 
friend, sister, comrade — I implore you, if you 
have any pity for my manhood, cease ! Do 
not humble yourself to beg my life of such a 
vile creature. It shames me to think that he 
should say such things to you, and /, bound 
hand and foot, /can not cram the words down 
his throat. Do not beg longer! I refuse to 


12 


178 


A Cuban Amazon. 


take my life at the hands of Juan Berrez, 
despoiler of women! ” 

Those words were his last. Wild with 
anger, Berrez commanded his soldiers to 
“ fire ! ” — and the brave soul of young Rodri- 
guez ‘ ‘ passed to where beyond these voices 
there is peace.” 

Turning to a sergeant, Berrez ordered that 
Evangeline and her father be kept in his tent 
under strict guard, and threatened him with 
death should either escape. And as the girl 
was led from the cave in chains, she stooped 
and kissed the brow of Rodriguez. 

“Poor boy! Brave soul! Pray for me 
until I come ! ” she said softly. 

As she passed over the scene of the recent 
butchery, and gazed upon the mangled bodies 
and glassy staring eyes of the Cubans, she 
shuddered, and whispered; “How long, O 
Lord! how long! ” 

Out of all her brave party but seventeen 
survived, and of these eleven were seriously 
wounded. Berrez and his force spent the 
remainder of the day — for by this time the 
day had come, though wet and lowering — not 
in festivity, but in achieving a suitable finish 
to his fiendish atrocities. Gathering all the 
wounded men, women, and children that had 


A Cuban Amazon. 


179 


survived the massacre, he forced them into 
the cave, in which he had already placed the 
dead, both Cuban and Spanish, and having 
sealed up all the entrances, mined the cave, 
and with his own hand discharged the fatal 
current. 

A rumbling noise followed, as if Heaven’s 
artillery was being gathered there in token of 
God’s anger. The entire hillside trembled, 
as if an earthquake had shaken it to its very 
foundations ; and presently it opened, and a 
shower of stones, boulders, and dust darkened 
the air. 

When it subsided, there was an immense 
cavern-like opening where the cave had been, 
and all traces of his crime were hidden, while 
of all the Cubans that had been on the island 
only a month before, there was left but seven- 
teen souls., all told, and of this number eleven 
were seriously wounded ! Berrez would have 
sacrificed these — it was from no feeling of 
pity that he stayed his hand, but because he 
purposed sending them to Havana, as trophies 
of his prowess and heroism. For the present, 
therefore, they were respited! 


i8o 


A Cuban Amazon. 


CHAPTER XIX. 

“ There was a laughing devil in his sneer! ” 

— Byron. 

“ Hope, withering, fled, and Mercy sighed fare- 
well ! ” — Ibid. 

“ Then blank despair. 

The shadow of a starless night, was thrown 
Over the world I ” — Shelley. 

Having concluded his last atrocity, Berrez 
gave orders that the entire force should return 
to Nueva Gerona, and with his escort he 
galloped off in advance. Arriving at his 
residence, he began preparations to receive 
his unfortunate victims. But for Evan- 
geline’s coming he made special arrangements, 
in keeping with the nature and character of 
the man. A room next to his own was ar- 
ranged to receive the poor girl, its windows 
made fast and safe with heavy iron bars. 

His plans being completed he sat down 
calmly to dine with his staff, and a merry 
party they made as they toasted each other in 
cognac on the brilliant success of their expe- 
dition. Toward noon the officer in command 
of the guard motioned the unfortunate Evan- 


A Cuban A?nazon. iSi 

geline to follow him. She did so, and found 
that the force was already on the move, and 
toward the town. Halting until a train of 
wagons came up, she found the wounded had 
been placed thereon, but failed to see her 
father. 

Behind the last wagon marched six of her 
followers on foot, with their arms tied behind 
them, and fastened leg to leg. As they turned 
their aching, burning eyes toward her they 
lifted their voices, and despite soldiers, despite 
bonds, cried as one man, “ Viva Cuba JLibrcP'^ 
True, every man was struck over the mouth 
with the flat side of a machete in the hands of 
a Spanish soldier ; but they had voiced their 
defiance ; nothing could undo that. As for 
the blows — well, one more or one less mat- 
tered little to them now. 

Evangeline lifted her hand in salute and 
answered them in their own words, “ Viva 
Cuba Libre ! and then at the order of the 
commanding officer she was made to fall in 
behind, and was thus escorted to the town. 
On arrival all were placed in safe custody in 
the “ Carcel Nacional,” each one being as- 
signed a separate cell. Evangeline had not 
seen her father all that day, although she 
knew that he was on one of the wagons. 


i 82 


A Cuban Amazon, 


Evangeline’s cell was neither better nor 
worse than those of the other prisoners — sim- 
ply a stone cell, with bare stone floor, and with 
neither stool nor any other piece of furniture. 
And to the brutality of Berrez did she owe 
the fact that she, a young, high-born, high- 
bred girl, was forced to sleep in such a place ; 
for, thoroughly exhausted by the terrible ex- 
periences of that day, she flung herself down 
on the bare floor and was soon fast asleep. 

It was about the hour of nine on the same 
evening when the guard entered, and rousing 
her, ordered her to accompany him, at the 
same time directing his steps to Berrez’ resi- 
dence. Arriving there she was conducted to 
the room prepared to receive her. Then she 
was given into the hands of a Spanish woman. 
The appearance of this person was rather for- 
bidding. Her hair was red, but the red pro- 
duced by the bleaching bottle. Nature had 
given her an abundance of coarse black hair, 
strong and wiry, together with strongly- 
marked brows, very black, and large yel- 
lowish-white teeth. In consequence of her 
bleached hair, her heavy black brows, that 
almost met above her large nose, gave her a 
very stern appearance. She was a brawny, 
angular woman, and singularly enough she 


A Cuban Amazon, 


183 


had a lolling air, which she had gained from 
novel reading. She was still young, scarcely 
thirty years old. 

The woman talked to Evangeline for about 
an hour, praising his Excellency the Governor 
and his goodness. “Why, Senorita,” she 
said, “though he is a soldier and should be 
severe and cold, he would not hurt a fly ! No 
wonder that the people adore him ! ” 

Evangeline shuddered. Good ! gentle ! 
Merciful God ! Is the hyena good ? Is the 
starving tiger gentle Yet they are as the 
breath of the morning compared to this human 
monster. For at least an hour she listened to 
this, then showed signs of weariness, and the 
woman asked if she wished to retire. Re- 
ceiving a reply in the affirmative she assisted 
the girl in her preparations for the night, after 
pausing to praise her beauties in a way that 
sent the blood in a wave over Evangeline’s 
face and throat, and even over the white shoul- 
ders and arms. 

Tired as she was, Evangeline could not sleep, 
although the room in which she was now 
placed was daintily fitted up with every detail 
dear to the feminine heart. It had been weeks 
since she had had the luxuries of life at her 
disposal; but now that she had them, the 


184 


A Cuban Amazon. 


loathing she bore the owner, and the fear and 
anxiety she felt for herself and a thousand fold 
for her father, drove all sleep from her eyes. 
Slowly and wearily the moments passed until 
it was almost midnight. The numbness of 
despair crept over her, and she fell into a 
semi-stupor that was not sleep, and yet she 
was not awake. It was the stupor and numb- 
ness of anguish, bitter and hopeless ; the 
loosening of the soul’s grasp upon all that 
makes life life ; the drifting adown the narrow 
stream that is the dividing line between two 
worlds whose rending is death. Its source 
— who can tell it? 

Softly the key turned in the well-oiled lock, 
and the girl saw Berrez outlined beside her in 
the pale moonbeams that crept in at the win- 
dow. First he stepped to the table where lay 
the handcuff and anklets which the woman 
had removed ; these he clasped upon the 
poor girl’s wrists and ankles before she had 
the slightest chance to prevent it, thus leaving 
her helpless. Then he began to mock her, 
saying : 

“ Senorita, you must pardon the oversight 
which in the first rush of placing the prisoners 
I committed, in permitting you to be given 
such quarters as those into which you were 
first thrust.” 


A Cuban Ainazon. 


1S5 

He paused as if awaiting a reply, but she 
lay with closed eyes and answered nothing. 
In her heart she asked herself if God had really 
forsaken her ; if she was to suffer always at the 
hands of this man, and he escape punishment 
ever? Where was the justice and mercy in 
such a condition ? 

He continued : “I trust, Senorita 7nia^ that 
I have, at least in part, repaired that blunder 
in having had you conveyed here to this 
chamber, which is a place better befitting the 
rank of so fair and tender a maiden as your- 
self. Besides, and what is much more to the 
purpose, you are nearer 7ne! ” 

Now, for the first time, the tortured girl 
turned her big dark eyes upon him, filled with 
the vacancy of despair. Then, with a ges- 
ture of abhorrence, she turned her face from 
him toward the wall. Wild with anger at 
her unconcealed loathing of him, and real- 
izing that her lofty spirit was still unbroken 
despite all the indignities that he had so 
grossly heaped upon her, he lost control of 
himself, and shouted : 

“Well, then, damn you! you shall have 
your own way. Since you will not heed fair 
words, you shall listen to harsh ones! ’’ 

The girl did not move, but from her break- 


A Cuban Amazon, 


1 86 

ing heart went up the cry : “ O my God, is it 
all in vain — so many prayers, so many strug- 
gles — all, all lost? O Christ, why hast Thou 
turned from me and left me alone and help- 
less, to be tortured by this fiend? ” 

Berrez resumed : “ Remember, I swore that 
I would bring you to your knees before me ! 
Do you not recall how truly and how quickly 
that vow was kept? Once I offered you mar- 
riage, love, tenderness, honor, position ; now 
I swear to complete my work and never rest 
until I have brought you down to the level of 
the lowest outcasts of the town. By God’s 
death! I’ll teach you that no one refuses the 
honor of Juan Berrez’ love! ” 

Evangeline answered with such a look of 
unutterable scorn and hate that even he, puffed 
up as he was with self-love, was struck with 
the wild ferocity that gleamed from those 
black orbs. It flashed upon him but a mo- 
ment; then she turned her face from him 
again. Her self-control was marvelous, and 
seemed to goad him like a prod of hot iron. 

“ I have slain one lover of yours; I have 
made a second turn traitor ; the third was shot 
at my command ; and now, I hold your father 
and yourself utterly in my power. Mine, all 
mine, I say, to wreak upon you both my own 


A Cuban Amazon, 187 

will; and be sure, Senorita, I shall forget 
nothing in dealing with either.’’ 

“Yes,” groaned the unhappy girl, unable 
longer to restrain herself ; “ fate and a traitor 
have intrusted us to the soft mercies of a 
monster without a conscience, and to whom 
the feeling of pity is unknown,” 

Berrez stooped over her until his hot breath 
burned her face into flaming scarlet, as he 
said hoarsely : “ But not unknown to admir- 
ation for and a desire to possess you — you 
adorable vixen of a woman ! ” 

Manacled as she was, the girl raised both 
hands, and would have brought them down 
with full force upon his head, but he caught 
and held them. 

“Wildcat!” he shouted, “what would 
you do? Would you brain me? ” 

“ Yes ! yes ! a thousand times, yes ! — if only 
the blessed God would give me the strength 1 ” 
she cried ; and manacled though she was, she 
thrust him from her, and springing from the 
bed, cowered trembling in a corner of the 
room. 

Berrez stood with folded arms, smiling — a 
very devil in his smile — and gloating over the 
miserable girl. It would seem that anything, 
brute or human, would have pitied a creature 


i8S A Cuban Amazon. 

so miserable and so entirely helpless as Evan- 
geline Cisneros. But pity, mercy, any of the 
gentler emotions, seemed to be strangers to his 
breast ; and now, with this girl who had never 
wronged him, praying him to go and leave 
her in peace, or kill her and end her misery, 
he stood and drank in her anguish as greedily 
as the babe its mother’s milk. 

He stepped toward her, the expression of 
his eyes striking terror to her heart. With 
limbs shaking with fright, the chains at her 
ankles and wrists clanking with every move- 
ment of her shivering body, she still prayed 
him to “go” and leave her. At last she 
flung herself upon her knees, and with 
clasped hands held out to him she prayed : 

“ Senor, be merciful — have pity — kill me — 
but do not, do not degrade me further ! Give 
me the means, and the opportunity, and let 
me be shot as a conspirator! Oh, Senor Ber- 
rez, you have surely wreaked sufiicient ven- 
geance upon me ! Forego the rest, and kill 
me, and I will die blessing you as an angel of 
mercy. By all you hold sacred, by the mem- 
ory of your mother who cradled you in her 
arms and prayed God to make you good and 
virtuous; oh, Senor — as you hope some day 
to be the father of brave sons and virtuous 
daughters — spare me ! spare me ! ” 


A Cuban Amazon, 


189 


She was not weeping, but her face seemed 
to be aged and drawn and seamed with an- 
guish. Her eyes, wild and terror-stricken, 
gazed at him as though she would draw pity 
from some hidden corner of his breast, and by 
their pleading compel mercy where neither 
pity nor mercy had ever dwelt. And now he 
rose from the chair into which he had thrown 
himself, and where he lay with head thrown 
back and his cruel lips ever smiling — smiling 
— always that cruel, sneering smile. Throw- 
ing aside the cigarette he held, he said : 

“ Come, my beauty! I’ve listened to your 
whinings long enough ! You are in my power, 
and by the Eternal, I mean to satiate my 
thirst for revenge! ” 

As he caught her arm the girl shrieked out : 
“Oh, Jesus! Son of Mary! I cry to thee! 
By thy blood and thy tears, save me ! Save 

me! save ” and dropped senseless to the 

floor. 

lit Hi ’ * * * 

The next day she was semi-delirious and 
too ill to rise ; but that night, and the next 
and the next, Berrez came and showered in- 
dignity after indignity upon this defenseless 
Cuban girl, so utterly in his power! 


190 


A Cuban Amazon. 


CHAPTER XX. 

“ O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, 

And men have lost their reason I ” 

— Shakespeare. 

“ One out of suits with fortune ! ” — Ibid. 

On the third day following a court-martial 
was held on all the survivors of the Cuban 
party. It consisted of the captain of the 
cruiser, “The Reina Christina,” as presi- 
dent ; two commandants, two captains, and 
two lieutenants. 

The first prisoner to be examined was 
Evangeline. She was brought in between 
two guards, and ordered to stand at the foot 
of the table. Her noble face was pale, her 
dark eyes were rimmed with black, and great 
black shadows under them gave her a look of 
pain and lack of physical strength. The lips 
were blue, and her wealth of raven hair was 
in two long braids that hung almost to her 
knees. Every movement showed intense 
physical weakness ; but the proud lift of the 
small head, the quiver of the thin nostril, the 
haughty curve of the proud lips, and above 


A Cuban Amazon. 


191 

all the flash of the dark eyes, gave proof that, 
though her body might fail her, the proud 
spirit was unconquered, and would remain 
unconquered until death and after. 

The captain of the “ Reina Christina ” was 
a short stout man, looking like nothing so 
much as a pouter pigeon ; with his small 
bullet head on the short thick neck ; the well 
rounded abdomen ; and all this set on a pair of 
short bandy legs, that seemed originally made 
for a small boy — but given by mistake to a 
man of two hundred and forty or fifty pounds 
in weight ; and these poor little legs having 
found themselves unable to uphold so much 
dignity and wine — his captaincy having a love 
for the juice of the grape — had gradually be- 
come bent, and now threatened to give way 
entirely, at any time. His eyes — small, close- 
set, and nondescript in color — were like his 
legs, untrustworthy and bent, A too contin- 
uous “looking upon the wine when it was 
red ’ ’ had drawn one closer than the other 
toward his ruby nose. The effeot was strik- 
ing, and it must be confessed, although not 
beautiful, very attractive. With it all the 
captain was the possessor of a most pompous 
manner, with which he never failed to at- 
tempt to “put down’* everybody, save 
always the captain of the Christina. 


193 


A Cuban Amazon, 


Captain Domingo felt himself grow first hot 
then cold, and a pricking, as of many pins, 
travelled up and down his back whenever 
Evangeline turned her great sorrowful eyes, 
filled with the griefs of all her people, 
toward him ; and if by chance they rested on 
him, he suddenly grew nervous and longed to 
be away, anywhere, just so that he was out 
of their range. 

“Hum — hum — the prisoner will stand at 
the foot of the table and face the President,” 
he said, as Evangeline glanced about her as if 
in doubt as to the position she was to take. 
With a dignity that never left her despite her 
surroundings, she stepped to the place indi- 
cated. 

Then the President said : 

“ Prisoner, your name? ” 

“Evangeline Cossio Y. Cisneros! ” she an- 
swered proudly. 

“ Yes — hum — yes — eh — you are a Cuban?” 

“kS/, Senor.’’^ 

“Yes — yes— -of course. Where is your 
home? ” consulting each time a paper lying 
before him. 

With a look of touching sadness, she re- 
plied : “ Where the good God wills. I have 
no home — now.” 


A Cuban Amazon. 


193 


“ No home — no home! Why not, pray? ” 

“ Because the vilest scoundrel that lives ” 

Before she could go further, one of the com- 
mandants bent over and whispered something 
to the President, who hastily stopped the 
prisoner with : 

“ Silence, prisoner, and reply only to the 
questions asked of you.” A bitter smile 
flitted like a shadow round Evangeline’s blue 
lips, but she said no word more. 

“ What is your father’s name? ” 

“ Francisco Vincente Cossio Y. Cisneros!” 

“ Hum — yes — yes. Well, prisoner, you will 
pay close attention to the reading of the accu- 
sations.” And he signaled the commandant 
nearest, who read the following : 

“Prisoner, you are charged, first, with 
being a rebel, inasmuch as you were by your 

own correspondence ” here Evangeline 

lifted her bowed head and looked inquiringly 
at the reader. 

^ “Your own correspondence — quite right, 
quite right, perfectly correct, Senorita. Pray 
go on, commandant. Pay attention, Seno- 
rita!” 

The reader went over in the same sing-song 

voice : “ acknowledged to be the leader of a 

band of lawless men who, terming themselves 

13 


194 


A Cuban Amazon. 


‘Cuban patriots,’ did on several occasions in- 
vade and destroy property belonging to our 
Sovereign, King Alfonso XIII. of Spain, and 
likewise did kill, wound, and maim certain of 
His Majesty’s faithful soldiers ; and that you 
caused the degradation of his Excellency, Don 
Juan Berrez, Governor and Commander of 
His Majesty’s forces on the Isle de Pinos, inas- 
much as under the pretense of friendship you 
inveigled him into a house at that time owned 
by your father, and when there had him basely 
assaulted, bound, and gagged, tied to a chair, 
and left there with murderous intent. Pris- 
oner, are you guilty or not guilty of these 
crimes? ” 

Evangeline turned upon them her fine face, 
in which there was no hatred, and in which 
suffering was swallowed up in a serene maj- 
esty. With great and lofty natures the revolt 
of the flesh and the senses against the assaults 
of physical pain brings out the soul and makes 
it show in the countenance. So it was with 
Evangeline. The pain she had endured, was 
still enduring, the falsity of the charges, the 
hopelessness of disproving them , all — all went 
deeper than mere resentment ; and having 
stirred the more profound waters of the river 
of life, left no room for anger. Then she 
said : 


A Cuban Amazon. 


195 


“Senors, why continue this farce longer? 
Already I have suffered more degradation and 
misery than usually falls to the portion of 
women ; and I care not what may hap- 

pen. I have nothing left to hope — therefore 
nothing left to dread. My entire trial is a 
farce, my fate being decided beforehand. To 
all of your charges, save one, I am proud to 
plead ‘guilty,’ and that one I repudiate utter- 
ly. Never, under any pretext whatever, would 
I have trusted myself to such a monster incar- 
nate as Juan Berrez, or have inveigled (?) 
him into the same house with myself ; although 
now I sincerely wish that it might be so, that 
I might have the opportunity to kill him ! He 
has ruined my body, and would kill my soul ! 
He is the vilest creature that encumbers the 
earth ; and were you men with souls of your 
own, I might claim your protection against 
him. As it is, do what you will, you are but 
his puppets. As for my rebellion — if to have 
hated the tyranny with which my poor people 
were held down is rebellion, I am ‘guilty.’ 
If to have loved Cuba and Liberty better than 
ease and comfort and the dishonor of high 
places is a crime, then is Evangeline Cisneros 
a criminal. Senors, my life is not worth the 
trouble of so long a defense. Work your will 
when you please and how you please.” 


A Cuban Amazon, 


“ Hum — yes, yes, why ” the President 

stammered like a man caught in a dilemma 
from which he sees no way out. The com- 
mandant bent down his head until on a level 
with the august one of the President ; the lat- 
ter rolled his eyes with their opposite inten- 
tions toward the commandant while he talked, 
nodded his head vigorously, and then clearing 
his throat, he arose, adjusted his waistcoat, 
and said with a mixture of pomposity and 
condescension : 

“ These recriminations and charges against 
his Excellency, the Governor, are useless, for 
we do not believe them. It is bad policy on 
your part to make them, since they may re- 
strain his Excellency from extending that 
mercy which he is empowered to grant you.” 

“Mercy!” cried Evangeline. “What 
?nercy has Juan Berrez ever extended to me 
or mine? Have I not just said that I have 
nothing left to hope, therefore nothing left to 
dread? But if you are men, ask him what 
mercy he has shown me these last three days ! 
When water refuses to flow down hill, delib- 
erately changing its course ; when fire will no 
longer burn the hand thrust therein; when 
the tiger no longer rends its prey ; when the 
sea gives up the secrets of its caverns, then 


A Cuban Amazon. 


197 


talk to me of the mercy of Juan Berrez ! A 
thousand times will I trust in preference the 
mercy of the hungry lioness to that of such 
a demon as he. No, Senors, I ask no mercy ! 
I expect none. Sentence me, and have done 
with this comedy. I can not fare worse than 
I have fared already — and I am weary, and 
long for rest ! ” 

This was said, not in a wild burst of fury, 
but as if the speaker had drunk the cup of 
misery and suffering to its very lees, and had 
no longer strength nor desire to combat with 
the world. 

At a sign the wretched girl was led from 
the room and back to the cell, on whose cold 
stone floor she yet found a much more wel- 
come and undisturbed rest than in the ele- 
gantly furnished chamber of Berrez. 


198 


A Cuban Amazon. 


CHAPTER XXI. 

“ Who will not mercie unto others show, 

How can he mercie ever hope to have?** 

— Spenser. 

“ Unhappy wight, borne to disastrous end ! ” 

— Ibid. 

“ I give the fight up; let there be an end.” 

— R. Browning. 

For three days Evangeline saw no one 
save her jailer, who brought her food of the 
coarsest and most meager kind. 

At about noon on the fourth day she was 
escorted from the prison to the room which 
had been the scene of the court-martial. There 
she found assembled all of her party, includ- 
ing the wounded, among whom her father 
was numbered. Despite the fact that all were 
manacled and most of them wounded, they 
rose and saluted their captain-in-chief, while 
not even the presence of the guard could pre- 
vent them crying, “ Viva Cuba Libre I ” 

Evangeline responded with a like salute, 
and attempted to reach her father’s side, but 
was prevented by the guard. Just then the 


A Cuban Amazon, 


199 


door opened, and the officers of the court filed 
in and took their places around the table. The 
eyes of the President on this occasion seemed 
more at cross purposes with one another 
than formerly. He was just as pompous, 
and “hum’d” and “yes — ^yes’d” in just 
the same proportion as he warmed to his 
work, or listened to the suggestions put to 
him by the first commandant. At length he 
rose and said : 

“Francisco Vincenti Cisneros, and you, 
Evangeline Cisneros, the court-martial sum- 
moned by his Excellency, the Governor, on 
behalf of His Majesty, the King of Spain, for 
unlawful and treasonable acts committed by 
you in His Majesty’s lawful domains, has 
given you a fair and impartial trial. The 
finding of this court is that you are guilty on 
all counts. You will be conveyed from this 
island to Havana, where sentence will be pro- 
nounced upon you by his Excellency, the Cap- 
tain-General, Valeriano Weyler. 

“ Regarding the other prisoners, we find 
that they having been taken in arms against 
His Majesty the King of Spain, are guilty as 
Insurrects, and therefore pronounce the ex- 
treme penalty of death against each and every 
one. Sentence will be executed in Havana at 


200 


A Cuban Amazon. 


the will of his Excellency, the Captain-Gen- 
eral ! ” 

Not even a word of recommendation to the 
pity of God. Alas, poor souls! Upon the 
breast of our universal mother, the earth, ye 
will sleep in peace. Happily God knows 
where to find the soul when He wants it. 
Content ye. He does not forget. 

The prisoners were led from the room and 
again confined in their cells. Early the next 
morning the entire party were paraded in the 
court-yard of the jail, where they were 
bound hand to hand and foot to foot like 
unruly beasts. Cisneros, being the eldest and 
most seriously wounded, was on this account 
shown especial consideration ; he was placed 
in front, and tied to the chain with which the 
soldiers led them ! 

In the rear marched Evangeline, with her 
arms bound behind her. They were taken 
thus and incarcerated in the lazarette of the 
cruiser “ Reina Christina,” and all save the 
girl placed in heavy irons. The journey to 
the port of Batabonoa was not of long dura- 
tion, but even during that short time she was 
subjected to indignities of such a character 
that all words fail to describe them. O Di- 
vine Mercy! when shall this tortured soul 
find rest and peace with Thee? 


A Cuban A?nazon. 


201 


On arriving at Batabonoa, they were 
marched through the streets to the railway 
station, and placed in the armored car with 
fifty men as a guard. The journey to Havana 
began at six o’clock in the morning; they 
arrived there twelve hours later. Their ar- 
rival was the occasion of great rejoicing, and 
the greater number of the population turned 
out to gaze on the hated “ Insurrects,” and 
their progress through the streets, especially 
when they reached Central Park, where all of 
the Spanish officers were assembled, became 
one continuous run of insults and vile epi- 
thets hurled at the unfortunates. 

They were taken to the Carcel Real Na- 
cional, a large, cruel, forbidding-looking 
building opposite Morro Castle, that last 
earthly home of so many ill-fated Cubans — a 
place replete with tales of cruelty and murder, 
and wrongs that cry to Heaven for justice. 
If all the wrongs, cruelties, unprovoked and 
outrageous murders that have been committed 
within its somber, silent, forbidding walls 
shall be answered for by the Spaniards, then 
woe, woe unto Spain ! The sorrows and 
wrongs of Cuba appeal to every sympathetic 
heart. She stands upon the shores of time 
with gyves upon her wrists, with hands 


202 


A Cuban Amazon, 


clasped and outstretched in supplication to 
the world, imploring Justice, Mercy, and 
Truth to turn their pitying eyes upon her, to 
relieve the misery and starvation of her chil- 
dren clinging to her skirts, asking of their 
mother what she can not give. Oh, ye stern, 
pitiless ones! remember that the mercy ye 
to others show, that mercy shall again be 
shown to you. 

Alas! alas! for thee, Morro Castle ! With- 
in thy walls are heard the moans of those 
whose lives have been sighed away over lips 
pale and blue with hunger, whose hands have 
stiffened into forms of appeal, whose knees 
have become bent from long supplication to 
heavens of brass. The breezes that fan the 
brazen cheeks of the pampered Spanish soldiery 
are the sighs forced out of aching, breaking 
hearts. The tears shed within the sunless con- 
fines of Morro would water for years the flow- 
ers that strive to brighten the walks within its 
enclosure. Grim, gaunt, gloomy, it stands a 
monument of “man’s inhumanity to man,” 
a giant ulcer upon the face of the fair land- 
scape. 

Each prisoner was placed in a separate cell, 
and after the long journey — worn out, tired, 
hungry, sick, wounded, and faint — was given 


A Cuban Amazon. 


203 


for his refreshment and delectation a drink of 
water and some very hard stale bread. And 
yet despite the horror of the prison and the 
certainty of the death penalty which stared 
them in the face, it was a great relief to these 
unfortunates to be able to stretch their stiffened 
limbs, even though within the confines of a 
prison ; and the like great boon of being alone 
was one for which they were thankful. 

If anything is frightful, if there be a reality 
which surpasses even dreams, it is a fate such 
as that of these poor Cubans : to be alive, to 
see the sun shine, to be in full possession of all 
manly vigor, to have health and strength and 
joy, to laugh heartily, to rush onward to a 
glory that dazzlingly invites you, the glory of 
bringing freedom to your oppressed country ; 
to feel a very pleasure in breathing the air of 
heaven, to feel your heart beating, to feel 
yourself a reasoning being, to speak, to think, 
to hope, to love ; to have a loving mother, an 
. adored wife ; to be the father of little prattling 
children ; to have the blessed sunlight and air 
of heaven ; and then suddenly, almost in a 
moment, to lose all this, to fall into the power 
of those who have no pity ; to be thrust away 
between stone walls where all is dark, gloomy, 
mouldy, and damp ; to be shut away from the 


204 


A Cuban Amazon, 


sunlight, the waving grass ; not to be able to 
see or smell the flowers, or to see the leaves 
and branches of the trees ; to be bound and 
chained like a wild beast — to have had all and 
to lose all! Can there be anything in life 
more terrible? 

For two days the prisoners were left in peace 
— the peace of the cell, or of the small enclo- ^ 
sure dignified by the name of ‘ ‘ recreation 
ground,” where hundreds were huddled into a 
space none too large for tens ; and during that 
time they mingled with the other unfortunates 
who had been brought there from all parts of 
the island. Sad indeed were the tales they 
heard from these people ! All were prisoners, 
either awaiting trial or sentenced to Fernando 
Po. On the third day the Insurrects from the 
Isle of Pines were called for trial, and after 
answering to their names, were bundled into a 
wagon and driven to the Palace, where a court 
martial was convened to try them. 

Cisneros, who was in the hospital, was too 
ill to be removed, and therefore his case was 
held over. The trial was purely a farce. The 
Attorney-General, after reading over the evi- 
dence of the former trial at Nueva Gerona, 
decided that the extreme penalty, death, be 
inflicted on all ; but it was decided to bring 


A Cuban Amazon, 


205 


them before the Supreme Court the following 
day in order that the unfortunate prisoners 
might have a full and impartial trial ; and in 
order that there should be no doubt of it, they 
were taken from judge to judge and the agony 
prolonged. Their fate was decided when they 
were taken. The rest was but a flimsy pre- 
tense. 

The prisoners were taken back to the Carcel, 
and passed the day in talking of their coming 
end. There is a kind of indifference to the 
blows of misfortune that is truly sublime. 
These unfortunates possessed that sublime in- 
difference. 


2o6 


A Cuban Amazon. 


CHAPTER XXII. 

“ Oh, what men dare do ! what men may do ! what 
men daily do ! — Shakespeare. 

“A good old man, sir.’’ — Ibid. 

“ Done to death by slanderous tongues ! ” — Ibid. 

Next morning the prisoners were brought 
to trial again. This time, however, the judge 
they faced was not a soldier. He was Octas 
Cassuso, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, 
a Cuban by birth and a distant relative of the 
Cisneros, and it was said that this trial was 
forced upon him as a trap. Being a man of 
strict honesty and probity, he took no part in 
the rebellion, even though he felt that his 
countrymen had many wrongs to endure ; 
because holding the position he did he must 
also uphold and abide by the law, even though 
that might not be wholly just in its workings. 

But he believed most profoundly that rarely, 
if ever, do men gain sufficient, by rebellion 
and insurrection, to repay them for what they 
lose. Therefore, although he criticised, 
mildly but truly, some of the abuses of Spain, 
and sympathized with some of Cuba’s 


A Cuban Amazon. 


207 


wrongs, he was known as a man of strict 
integrity, an incorruptible judge, and one 
whose loyalty to his government was not to 
be questioned by any fair-minded person. He 
was, moreover, one of those rare beings who, 
being once convinced of the justice of a 
question, would state his conviction and abide 
by that, even though it should mean serious 
discomfort ; nay more, though it cost him that 
which is dearer to some men than honor — yes, 
than life itself — the approbation of the mighty, 
the adulation of those in high places. 

Given men of that sort for judges, and 
these poor prisoners might have stood some 
chance for their lives. But given one judge 
of this sort, and all others in authority his 
diametrical opposite, and what is the result? 
Why, the accused go down and unconsciously 
and unwittingly drag down with them the 
one just man who should have redeemed the 
whole. So, when the case against the Insur- 
rects was gone over again by the attorney- 
general, and he again demanded the death 
penalty for all, this judge, with a bravery 
born of his love of justice and of right, rose 
and said ; 

“ Senors ; We have listened to the evidence 
with the closest attention ; and as I listened I 


2o8 


A Cuban Amazon. 


could not prevent my thoughts from straying 
a little in the past. 

‘ ‘ Only a few short weeks ago and these 
men were peaceful citizens, tillers of the soil 
and artisans, and all hard-working men. Not 
a day passed but some one of their number 
was arrested for the most trivial matter, and 
heavily fined, or whipped ; or if the offense 
could be, by any turning and twisting of evi- 
dence, made to appear as directed against the 
government, he was shot. Why? Because a 
court of law had decided that his crimes were 
so great as to merit death? No ! But because 
one man decided that he wished him off the 
earth. This continued for many months, the 
punishments growing greater and more 
severe, in proportion to the smallness of the 
offense. 

“For some time this man had cast his 
adulterous, wanton eyes in desire upon the 
fairest flower in the island. She refused his 
protestations of love, because she was already 
the promised wife of another. When he 
found that she declined to become his wife, 
he offered her insult. Brave as she was vir- 
tuous, she resented the offense. Then began 
persecution. Exercising his power, the father 
of the maiden was arrested, thrown into 


A Cuban Amazon, 


209 


chains and imprisoned. When this loving 
and dutiful daughter went to this monster to 
beg her father’s life, this vile, inhuman 
creature offered her the boon she begged — in 
return for her virtue. Infamous ! 

“ Wild with apprehension, she begged and 
obtained the favor (?) of a week to decide. 
Within the week, taking advantage one 
night of the absence of all servants from the 
house, this fiend sends and commands the 
presence of the father. Then, like a thief, he 
steals to the house, and forcing the door of 
the young girl’s room, despite her tears and 
prayers for death, inflicts upon her the vilest 
of all abusive treatment. Father and lover 
appealed to their neighbors and servitors. 
They responded, as all honest men should 
respond. 

“ In addition to these crimes, he lengthened 
the list by murdering the lover, and defender 
of his victim’s honor. 

“Whatever our political convictions, 
[whether we are Spanish adherents or Cuban 
sympathizers, there must remain in our hearts, 
if divine justice permits, a sentiment of love 
for, and the desire to protect the honor and 
sanctity of our homes, the lives of our sons, 
the virtue and honor of our daughters and 

H 


210 


A Cuban Amazon. 


wives. To that sentiment I appeal in this 
decisive hour. If it still exists in you, as I am 
sure it does, reflect before you destroy these 
men. The wild animal fights for its home, 
its mate, and its young, and shall we deny to 
mankind the rights we accord to the beasts.? 
Senors, in summing up the case, I state boldly 
that in my opinion the provocation was so 
great that I am not surprised at the rising, 
and I believe that these men should go free, 
and Colonel Juan Berrez, Governor of His 
Majesty’s domain, the Isle of Pines, is the 
man who should at this moment be standing 
in the prisoner’s dock. 

“Furthermore, pending the evidence of 
Juan Berrez, I, by the power in me vested, 
refuse to pronounce the sentence of death 
against them.” 

He sat down amid a silence that could be 
felt, it was so intense. The Spaniards in the 
court-room were filled with amazement at the 
audacity — as they called it — of Cassuso, while 
the prisoners murmured with pale lips : 

“Oh, God! He has destroyed himself! 
Poor, good old man ! ” 

The attorney-general leaped to his feet and 
denounced the judge as a “rebel,” “ a sus- 
pect,” and a “Cuban sympathizer.” 


A Cuban Amazon. 


2II 


The judge was on his feet almost at the 
same instant. He made no reply to the 
speaker, but in a voice that vibrated to the 
furthest recesses of the hall, he said : 

“ Officer, arrest the attorney-general at 
once for contempt of court.” Then he went 
on to declare with spirit that he was no sus- 
pect, but was on the bench to deal out justice, 
and not as a toady to any military which hap- 
pened to be in command. 

There was one present who, by his cruel- 
ties in the field, had earned for himself the 
name of ‘ ‘ The Butcher ’ ’ — Commander Gen- 
eral-in-chief Weyler. As the guards stepped 
forward to obey the order of the judge, Wey- 
ler arose and said : ‘ ‘ Stop ! The attorney- 

general by my order goes free! ” He then 
commanded the court cleared, the prisoners to 
be tried by court-martial on the morrow, and 
ended: “And I further order the arrest of 
Chief Justice Octas .Cassuso, and that he be 
imprisoned as a suspect.” 

Oh, this one-man power ! It has been the 
curse of governments, whether large or small, 
since the beginning of governments. There 
lives no man upon the earth to-day, nor has 
one ever lived, who would not abuse this su- 
preme power if placed in his hands. 


213 


A Cuban Amazon. 


The prisoners were again remanded to wait 
out another long, anxious day before their 
sentence should be pronounced. They real- 
ized that there was no escape for them, and 
were as resigned as men ever grow to be, to 
laying down their lives when they are young 
and strong, and life and love is all before 
them. But they could not restrain their tears 
of sorrow and sympathy that this brave and 
true old man, who had striven so hard to be 
of service to them, should have been made to 
suffer because of his love for justice and 
mercy. Brave old man, may thy heroism be 
remembered to thee in Paradise ! 

That day there came into Evangeline’s 
dreary life a break for which she never ceased 
to be grateful to Divine Pity. , She was vis- 
ited by the wife and daughter of the Ameri- 
can Consul, General Fitzhugh Lee, whose 
intercession with the authorities upon seeing 
her pitiful state procured for her a few 
of the necessaries of life. Miss Lee also 
brought some books and flowers to the unfor- 
tunate girl. Acts of this kind are by no 
means rare in the daily lives of these gentle- 
women, Born of a race of men and women 
who loved justice and hated tyranny— of 
grand old Virginia stock, of which those who 


A Cuban Amazon. 


213 


have only one drop within their entire nature 
are ever proud, and we who come direct are not 
less so — they could be nothing less than kind 
and gently helpful to the oppressed and down- 
trodden, and true to their birthright. Many 
an American, Englishman, and Cuban alike 
owes deepest thanks to General Lee and to 
his noble wife and daughter for comforts 
bestowed upon them during an imprisonment. 
Everything must be paid for in Spanish pris- 
ons, and a goodly slice of the General’s salary 
finds its way into the pockets of the pris- 
oners.* 

If all Consuls in Cuba were made of the 
same material, and had the courage of their 
convictions as had General Lee, Cabanas 
would not have so many foreigners rotting, 
seemingly forgotten, within its walls. All 
brave and honest men the world over, no 
matter what their political beliefs, venerate 
and esteem General Fitzhugh Lee for the 
courageous, manly, and honorable stand he 
made regarding the duties of his office as 
Consul to Cuba, as well as the pure, high- 
minded, and loyal way in which he discharged 

B. — General Lee, to the profound regret of all 
liberty-loving Americans, resigned his Consulship 
and is now a private citizen. 


214 


A Cuban Amazon, 


them, All hail, thou brave knight, 'without 
fear and without reproach ! ” 

On the next day the prisoners were again 
driven to the palace, and as was expected, the 
military trial was wholly a farce. The at- 
torney-general spoke long and bitterly, and 
he no doubt thought he spoke eloquently. He 
reminded the officers of the “ insults which 
had been showered upon one of their own 
cloth, an officer of His Majesty King Alfonso 
of Spain ; an officer noted for his zeal in the 
discharge of his duty, and against whose fair 
name none had ever before dared to utter a 
word. Would they calmly endure to see 
themselves besmirched and contaminated — for 
in permitting a brother officer to suffer soilure, 
they were at the same moment allowing their 
own persons and the venerated uniforms they 
wore to become defiled with the- filth and 
muck of a vile woman’s viler tongue. 

“The accusations of this profligate woman, 
this Evangeline Cisneros, were false, and 
showed falsity on their face. They would be 
utterly ridiculous, laughable even were they 
not so vilely damnable, and delivered with 
such seemingly deep feeling. The cunning of 
this pretense of feeling ! The depths of deprav- 
ity in the nature of a dissolute woman, the 


jI Cuban A.mazon. 215 

lengths to which she will go in order to wind 
her toils about her victim, are unknown to an 
honest man ; therefore there are pitfalls against 
which he is unguarded, and because of his 
lack of knowledge, this lost woman, this Jeze- 
bel, inveigled Colonel Juan Berrez, an honor- 
able officer and an innocent man, into her 
room, where her confederates bound him se- 
curely to a chair, gagged him, and having set 
fire to the building, rode rapidly to the hills, 
leaving their helpless victim to a horrible fate. 

“ But thanks to his brave men, he was res- 
cued and lived to apprehend his would-be 
murderers and bring them to you for justice. 
And will you allow your minds to be turned 
from the right and permit them thereby to es- 
cape the punishment their crimes so strongly 
merit? lean not, will not believe it. These 
men are rebels ; they have insulted and reviled 
the government, and fought and killed His 
Majesty’s faithful soldiers. They have de- 
stroyed the property of His Majesty’s loyal 
and loving subjects ; they have been talked to 
and told of their wrong doing, but to no pur- 
pose. They have reached the limit of His 
Majesty’s loving kindness and merit the death 
of rebels.” 

The false and cruel trial had dragged its 


2i6 


A Cuban Amazon, 


dreary length to the end. The prisoners filed 
out while the court passed its judgment upon 
them. In half an hour they were brought 
back and the sentence of the court was read to 
them. Evangeline was sentenced to death as 
the leader of the insurgents, but the sen- 
tence would not be carried out until sanctioned 
by the Queen Regent. The remainder of the 
prisoners were sentenced, one-half to be shot 
and the other half to be garroted. 

Not one of the poor fellows uttered a word ; 
perhaps it was a relief to know that all would 
soon be over. On the command of their jailer 
they filed slowly out of court, but with heads 
erect and step firm. They were taken back to 
the Carcel Nacional and placed in a room 
apart from the remainder of the inmates. This 
was known as the “Room of the Condemned.” 
Thus there was never any need of asking the 
result of the trials. 

That afternoon the prisoners were taken out 
into the court-yard and there handcuffed and 
then manacled both by hand and foot to each 
other, two and two. Evangeline was ordered 
back to the cell. It was a sad and silent fare- 
well she bade the men who had risked their 
lives for her, and who now looked for the last 
time on the face of their girl leader ! Tears 


A Cuban Aniazon. 


217 


streamed unrestrained over the girl’s face as 
she saw them led out of the prison. She cared 
not for herself, nor did she give a thought to 
her own perilous position. Brave and gener- 
ous by nature, she would have given her own 
life gladly, if by so doing she could have given 
these men, who had served her and loved her 
so faithfully, back to their wives and little 
ones. 

She knew that she could only call down 
insult and revilement upon their heads, and 
upon her own, to ask any mercy for them. 
The thought was sheer madness and she put 
it aside. All this while her tears were drop- 
ping over her pale cheeks, as she watched the 
men who had risked their lives for her, and 
who had stayed and fought beside her so 
bravely. Surely, surely there was something 
wrong somewhere, somehow. The good God 
was punishing them almost beyond their 
strength ; while he — that creature without a 
name, the thought of whom turned her cold 
and made her blood feel like ice in her veins 
— every joy and every honor was his. She 
could not understand. She only realized that 
it was not just, it was not right. 

The prisoners were marched in pairs from 
the Carcel to the boat-landing near to the 


2i8 


A Cuban Amazon, 


Santa Clara Battery, whence they were con- 
veyed across the bay to the so-called “ stage 
under Cabanas. This stage consists of a rock 
jutting out about ten feet into the water. 
Here the prisoners were forced to jump, in 
pairs, on to this slippery footing. Nearly all 
fell, cutting their faces and hands terribly, 
and thereby affording great amusement to the 
soldiers from the fortress who gathered to 
see the insurgents brought in. Regaining 
their feet as best they could, the unfortunate 
men were driven like animals up the steep 
winding hill which leads to the gate of the 
fortress. On arriving they were handed over 
to the officer in command of the main gate, 
who had them released from their manacles 
and chains and then placed in a cell all to- 
gether to await the call for prayers, which 
they would receive the night previous to the 
day on which they were to be executed. 

There was but one more march for them to 
make ; then the curtain would fall upon the 
tragedy of their lives. Then would Time 
write '‘'‘Finis '*'' — and the world go on its 
rounds as before, and the spring rains fall, 
the tender grasses grow, and the buds swell 
and burst with their beauty, as though suffer- 
ing and sorrow were unknown, and peace and 
plenty crowned suffering Cuba. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


219 


CHAPTER XXIII. 

“ O ye afflicted ones, who lie 
Steeped to the lips in misery, 

Longing, yet afraid to die ! ” 

— Longfellow. 

“ The child of misery, baptized in tears.” 

— John Langhorne. 

Evangeline from her cell window could 
see all that took place in the court-yard. By 
order of her jailer, influenced by Juan Berrez, 
whenever there was anything horrible trans- 
piring the guard would order her to go to the 
window, that her heart might be harrowed at 
sight of the misery which she was powerless 
to relieve. Oh ! thou great and merciful 
Father! When will the end come? When 
shall this tired spirit rest, and the weary heart 
cease to beat ? 

To Evangeline it seemed that her heart was 
dead in her breast ; that the only feeling left 
to her was a desire to die and be at rest. She 
knew but too well that life, whatever portion 
was left to her, would be one long, long, bit- 
ter agony. From Berrez she expected only 


220 


A Cuban Amazon. 


misery. That he would devote hours to plan- 
ning some new torture for her she knew only 
too well. She dreaded from day to day some 
new twist of the thumbscrew, some turn of the 
wheel of the rack whereon her stricken soul 
lay. Not a word had she heard of what her 
own fate would be. What he intended 
should be the final disposition made of her 
she had no clew to guess. She could only 
wait, with what courage and patience was 
left her. The close, foul air of the prison 
made her ill — or would have done so had it 
not been that the mind so far dominated the 
body as to leave neither ability nor inclina- 
tion to pander to or be influenced by material 
ills. Sometimes she feared that madness 
would overtake her. Then she hastily put 
the thought from her. What mattered mad- 
ness — what mattered anything — if in that way 
she gained forgetfulness ? 

The far-away blue sky gazed with soft eyes 
at the wretched girl ; the great white clouds 
looked like heaps of snowy lace, with here 
and there the azure background peeping 
through the openings in their mesh, as she 
stood looking into the face of the heavens. 
Presently she heard a voice say softly : 

‘ ‘ Evangeline — Evangeline ! ’ ’ She listened ; 


A Cuban Amazon. 


221 


in a moment the words came again, this time 
a trifle louder : 

‘ ‘ Evangeline ! Listen ! I’ve news for you ! ’ ’ 
It was Casusso, the Chief Justice, whose 
cell was next hers, and who, standing at his 
window, could make his words heard by the 
person in the cell adjoining, “Ah! my 
friend, my dear friend. If only I could en- 
dure for you. You are young; you could 
still find much in life to render you happy. 
I am old ; the years left for me are few. My 
dear ones are gone. The wife of my youth 
awaits me. My joys are done. But if only 
I could have saved you, my fair young friend, 
I would have felt repaid for any suffering 
they might have made me endure. As it 

is ” a heavy sigh said far more than 

words, and the tears rolled silently down his 
pale furrowed cheek. 

“And you — best and kindest of friends — 
what have they done to you? What indig- 
nity have they dealt you? ” 

“Nay, my child, ’twill only grieve you to 
know. Then why ask me? ” 

“It is something horrible, I know, else you 
would not hesitate. Oh, good friend ! I have 
been dealt so many and such fearful blows 
that I feel there is not a single arrow in fate’s 


232 


A Cuban Amazon. 


quiver the venom of which I have not felt.” 

“My child, thou knowest one need expect 
no mercy from the tiger in the jungle nor the 
Spaniard in authority. Therefore, be assured 
that they have given me all that they could 
possibly give in punishment. I would spare 
thee.” He dropped into the familiar, tender 
“ ” unconsciously, as one does with a 

child. 

“ I beg — implore — that I may know the 
truth. What is thy punishment, good 
friend?” 

“ Nothing beyond what I expected — twenty 
years banishment to Fernando Po, at hard 
labor in chains.” 

‘ ‘ The fiends — the demons ! Has neither 
youth nor age the power to move their 
hearts? ” 

“Nay, child — be comforted. lam an old 
man, and with pleasant surroundings and at 
my ease I must have joined the dear ones 
gone before, within a very few years. At 
Fernando Po! — well, at most it can be but a 
question of months. Therefore be at peace, 
my daughter, mine through mutual endurance 
of pain and sorrow.” 

Evangeline’s sobs were coming more and 
more rapidly as he talked: “ Senor — my 


A. Cuban Amazon, 


223 


father, tell me of him, if you know aught.” 

“My daughter, I know but little. Still, to 
your anxious heart that little is better than 
suspense. Your father’s wounds are still too 
painful to admit of his being tried ; but, my 
child, the wounds will heal, or if they do not 
— well — a Spanish court-martial will not 
wait ! And — I fear you need expect no 
reversal of decision.” 

“You mean they will inflict the death 
penalty.” 

“ Yes, my child.” 

“ Oh, if only they will! if only they will! 
Senor, my great fear has been that they 
would send my father to Fernando Po. That 
would be far, far worse than death! ” 

“My child! my child! for Heaven’s sake, 
do not speak those words above your breath. 
If once the thought should enter the mind of 
that accursed Berrez, nothing could save your 
father.” 

“True, true; I did not think for the 
moment. I will be careful — very careful.” 

All this time there had been a clatter and a 
swearing at horses, and a perfect pande- 
monium going on in the court-yard below, 
and Evangeline, while she watched the har- 
nessing of the horses to a van standing there, 


224 


A Cuban Amazon, 


did so with unseeing eyes. At length she 
said : 

“ Senor, what is the cause of the noise 
below — and who is to be given a ‘ ride ’ — and 
where. Can you tell me? ” 

“Alas, alas, dear child! I know but too 
well. The prophecy of Berrez is to be ful- 
filled. Those horses are being harnessed to 
carry you to that vilest of dens, the Carcel 
Real des Renardios, the ‘ house of the sweep- 
ings.’ ” 

A low cry broke from Evangeline’s lips : 
“ O my God! Not that! not that! Surely, 
surely they will spare me that ! Oh, Senor — 
save me, save me ! I can not go to that den ! 
OGod! OGod!” 

“ My child, my poor, poor child ! If only I 
could save you — if only I could. But alas ! I 
am no longer ‘ Chief Justice Cassuso.’ I am a 
criminal condemned to Fernando Po. My 
child — be brave ; you have been, thus far, be so 
to the end. I pity you from my soul, and I 
would lay down my life to help you — but I 
am powerless. It will be but a moment more 
that I can speak to you. Be true to yourself, 
be yourself, and you know not what help may 
come. When the American Consul’s ladies 
come to see me, to-morrow — may God forever 


A Cuban Amazon. 


235 


bless them — I will tell them where you have 
been sent, and they may be able to help you. 
Be comforted, dear child. And now, fare- 
well ! On this earth we will meet no more, 
but in that great and glorious Hereafter, 
where every shadow shall become substance, 
and every dream a reality, God grant that we 
meet and receive our crowns. Farewell, 
farewell! Viva Cuba Libre! qui vi — va!'^'' 

“Farewell, good, kind, generous friend. 
Forgive me, if I have in any way, however 
remote, been the cause of your imprisonment 
and suffering. God knows I did not intend 
it. Farewell. Viva Cuba Libre! 

At that moment her cell door opened and 
she was ordered to follow the guard. She 
dared not show by any sign that she knew to 
what place she was going, for fear of causing 
her poor old kinsman further trouble. So she 
obeyed silently. The guard conducted her to 
a room on the ground floor, and rapping at a 
door, a voice that sent the icy chills over her 
called out : 

“ Enter!” 

The guard opened the door, closed it behind 
her, and left her in the presence of Juan Ber- 
rez. His gleaming dark eyes traveled up and 
down, taking in every detail of her misery. 

15 


226 


A Cuban Amazon. 


The torn and shabby gown, the shoes almost 
dropping from off the small feet, the emaciated 
figure that, despite its emaciation, still kept 
the traces of its divine curves. The small 
proud head was still erect, but the white throat 
that upheld it fluttered painfully as she strove 
to subdue all emotion. The dark eyes were 
dull and lack-luster, the heavy circles beneath 
them telling more plainly than words what she 
had suffered. Her long heavy hair hung in 
two massive braids almost to her knees, and 
each one would have borne a strong man’s 
weight. Despite her cruel sufferings, despite 
prison fare and the lack of every comfort, de- 
spite all of his efforts to destroy her beauty, it 
was still present ; and though now it was 
beauty in distress, she was still the fairest 
woman in Cuba, and the fairest in the world 
for Berrez. His bold eyes traveled upward 
until they reached her face, and there leaped 
into them an unholy fire that made the girl 
catch her breath. At length he said hoarsely, 
his voice shaking with passion and excite- 
ment : 

“Senorita, we meet again, and I have a 
proposition to offer you.” 

The girl shivered, but made no reply. 

“ Beautiful devil, fiend — I know not what 


A Cuban Amazon, 


227 


to call you — my very soul hungers for you ! 
I swore to bring you to my feet ; I have 
done so. I swore to possess you ; I swore to 
imprison your father ; I have done so. I 
swore to send you to the ‘Carcel Real des Re^ 
nardios,’ and the van awaits to take you 
thither ; but I have within me a love for you 
that works like poison in my blood. I can 
find but one antidote for that poison — yourself. 
Senorita, be mine. I offer you a home, money, 
carriages, servants ready and anxious to do 
your bidding. Instead of the garments you 
now wear you shall have silks and satins, pre- 
cious stones shall deck your beauty. You shall 
not have a desire left ungratified. Will you 
come ? ’ ’ 

“ No, Senor ; I have no longer the strength 
to do battle with you for the insults you 
offer. I can only implore you to spare me, and 
let me go on my way.” 

“ Evangeline, listen to me. You can form 
no conception of the horrors of the Carcel. 
You have been daintily reared; the only 
hardships you have ever known have come 
within the past few weeks. But if those 
were all rolled into one great suffering, all 
together could not compare with one little 
moment of the horror of the Carcel Real des 


228 


A Cuban Amazon. 


Renardios. Instead of this, I offer you every 
pleasure that money can buy, the gratification 
of every desire. I will give you your father’s 
life ” 

The girl gasped and swayed like a bent 
reed, while her pale lips whispered: “Do 
not torture me ! If you have within your 
soul one drop of human pity, spare me now.” 

Thinking he had gained some advantage, 
Berrez went on: “Remember, if you refuse 
me you send your father to his death, or to 
worse, perhaps. Will you do that? Will 
you not come to me, and let me dry your 
tears? I will love you so fondly, you shall ” 

She raised her trembling hands, as though 
warding off a blow. Then she said, the 
words almost choking her: “Cease, cease! 
For Christ’s sake, torture me no longer! You 
talk of giving me love! You do not know 
the meaning of the word. With you, love 
and lust are interchangeable terms. You 
offer me money, jewels, silks, carriages, and 
shamcl The toy of a day, a week, a month 
— then thrown aside to be remembered no 
more ! My father would not accept his life on 
those terms. No, Senor. He comes of a race 
of men whose sons were brave, and whose 
daughters were pure. And Francisco Vin- 


A Cuban Amazon. 229 

cente Cisneros would be the last man alive to 
accept life in exchange for his daughter’s 
honor! As for suffering, Senor” — a pathetic 
quiver of the lips made the girl’s face for the 
moment seem like that of a suffering child, 
then she went on : “ As for my pain and the 
suffering / shall endure, I would have both as 
my portion in addition to the condemnation of 
self, and the loss of self-respect, if I stooped to 
become the mistress of Juan Berrez. No, 
Senor, I prefer the Carcel Real des Renardios 
to the embrace of your arms!” 

During the time she was speaking the man’s 
face changed slowly to the ashen gray of fury. 
His eyes lost all human expression, his lips be^ 
came purple and swollen, while his voice grew 
so hoarse as to be no longer recognizable. 
Bounding towards her like some furious ani- 
mal he grasped her and shook her until his 
passion exhausted itself, and he dropped into 
his chair, while his victim staggered and would 
have fallen to the floor but for the support of 
a table, against which she leaned, gasping for 
breath. 

“You devil,” he raved, “I swear I will 
break your spirit yet, and you shall come creep- 
ing to Juan Berrez and implore him to take 
you upon anyterniBl I tell you, you shall be 


230 


A Cuban Amazon. 


mine, you shall be though I kill you to possess 
you! You shall not cast me aside, refuse my 
love as though my very presence were a pol- 
lution! You shall be mine, shall begior my 
love — and then, and then ” 

Starting up suddenly, he cried : “And now, 
Senorita, you shall have your choice! You 
shall go to the Carcel, ‘to the house of the 
sweepings ’ along with the other prostitutes, 
and see if that does not break your pride. 
When you grow weary of that., send for me. 
Until then, Senorita, adios. Damnation take 
you ! ’ ’ 

He rushed from the room like a madman ; 
the guard entered and commanded Evangeline 
to take her place in the van. The driver was 
not a fiend incarnate, and in response to her 
pitiful appeal ordered one of the other pris- 
oners to get together the few necessities, and 
the books that Miss Lee had given her ; and 
after she had taken her seat in the van he 
drove rapidly to the other prison. 

It was the vilest of dens, a prison out on 
the western side of the bay, where all the cour- 
tesans and vile women, irrespective of color, 
were imprisoned like beasts in one huge cage. 

After being searched, she was told off to 
the position in the room which served as the 
sleeping departmenv. Here in the Carcel she 


A Cuban A?nazon. 


231 


found no less than one hundred and twenty 
women and six children. The bed consisted 
of a plank, fastened on trestles, and extend- 
ing from one end of the long room to the 
other. The pillow was composed of the same 
soft material. The stench and the heat were 
something too terrible even to be imagined ; 
and there lay on those hard boards four chil- 
dren and eight women suffering from small- 
fox^ and seven women vfxth. yellow fever. For 
these wretched people there was no medical 
attention and no medicines.* The doctors 
had too much to do in the hospital among 
the men to cast even a passing glance at such 
poor forlorn creatures as these. Poor, de- 
graded womanhood! Poor, condemned, sin- 
blackened, besmirched souls ! 

For two weeks the poor girl endured these 
horrible surroundings. Why she did not fall 
ill of either of the contagious diseases is a mys- 
tery. But she did not, and her beauty shone 
like a radiant star on a dark night, by con- 
trast with the horrors about her. At the end 
of that time came a ray of hope, a feeble 
one, but Evangeline clutched at it as does a 
drowning man to the seaweed that drifts 
through his stiffening fingers. 


*A pitiful fact. 


232 


A Cuban Amazon, 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

“Let us swear an eternal friendship !” 

— Molierk. 

“ Never morning wore 

To evening, but some heart did break.” 

— Tennyson. 

During the months that had elapsed since 
the first uprising in Cuba the war correspond- 
ents from the different countries had flocked 
to the scene, and now the sight of an English- 
man or an American was by no means uncom- 
mon in Havana. 

Among the many there were two, one an 
Englishman, Fred Burke, correspondent of 
the London Black and White,, a hunchback, 
with the face of a god and a heart ten- 
der as a woman’s, imprisoned within a bent 
and twisted body. At first sight one’s pity 
for him was so strong that one lost sight of 
the fact that, despite contrary appearances, 
his body was strong and sinewy, and he 
seemed so jolly always that he was like a 
draught of wine, cheering his companions 
when they grew sad, and making life in the 
midst of so much sorrow endurable if not en- 
joyable. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


233 


Fortunately for himself, he had never loved, 
had never seen any woman in all his travels 
whom not to see again would have caused 
him one hour’s loss of sleep. He was ever 
kind, ready to relieve misery and suffering, 
and unlike most hunchbacks, there was not a 
trace of spite in his entire nature. His con- 
stant companion, George Wilson, was a New 
Yorker, correspondent of the yournal^ and a 
man whose body was as handsome as poor 
Burke’s was deformed, but whose face, seen 
beside Fred’s, was cruelly ugly. 

‘ ‘ What a pity one or the other of us 
couldn’t have been a perfect man,” Burke 
would say, as he watched Wilson swinging 
his clubs or lifting some weight that to Burke 
was as impossible as flying. 

“ It’s a shame to have spoiled two men. 
Why couldn’t Providence have either given 
you my head and face, or have given me your 
body? Don’t you see how much better that 
would have been? ” 

“Thanks, awfully, old man! You mean 
well; but in the role of Providence you 
wouldn’t be a success,” drawled Wilson, as 
he turned idly in his hammock and watched 
the smoke he was puffing in clouds from both 
mouth and nose. “Don’t you see that the 


234 


A Cuban Amazon, 


one who got the bad end of the bargain would 
be little short of a demon? I know that if I 
were the one selected to carry my ugly mug 
on your — ^your — re ” 

“ Go on, old fellow! You know I’m not 
hyper-sensitive on my twisted body. Well? ” 

“Well,” continued Wilson, “I’d raise 
particular hades just to even things up a 
little. And while you’re a pretty good fel- 
low, I don’t believe you’d be satisfied to 
change heads with me. And on the other 
hand, just see what a heart-smasher — what 
a conceited ape and insufferable puppy — 
the ‘ handsome dog ’ would make. No, it 
wouldn’t work; for instead of there being 
two good men walking the earth, there’d be 
two bad ones — one a demon, the other an ass. 
Stick to newspaper work, Burke, and don’t 
try to change for a job as Providence ; the 
character’s a failure, with you in the title 
role.” 

Burke laughed good-naturedly : “All right, 
all right — merely a suggestion, you know.” 

At that moment the street was filled with 
hootings and shoutings, and frequently a stone 
sailed through the air, flung with dexterous 
aim. Down the street came a band of Insur- 
rects, the men with arms bound behind them, 


A Cuban Amazon. 


235 


their ankles chained, two and two, the chains 
clanking as they moved. Behind them, the 
blood streaming over her face from a wound 
made by a stone from the hand of some street 
urchin, the long braids filled with little twigs 
and wisps of straw flung by some evil-minded 
person, marched Evangeline. Her arms were 
bound, the long ebon lashes lying on the pale 
cheeks, the lips blue, and the corners of the 
sweet mouth drooping. Weary in soul and 
body, she passed — a martyr to liberty ! 

As she came opposite the window at which 
the young men stood, the face that up to that 
moment was motionless as a death-mask 
showed that life still kept its home in the 
bruised and wearied body. The jetty lashes 
lifted and the eyes, “ darker than the darkest 
pansies,” looked for a single instant of an- 
guish into those of Burke — looked down, 
down into his heart ; and with that look 
awakened Love, who slept within. 

The man’s face whitened until it became as 
pallid as Evangeline’s own. He lifted his 
hand and passed it over his forehead and eyes, 
like one who wakens from a dream and for 
the moment fails to recognize those about him. 
The train passed on, amid the hootings and 
jeerings of the mob, interspersed with the 


236 


A Cuban Amazon. 


curses of those who, not daring to speak 
openly, gazed about them fearfully even 
while the words were ground out from 
between their teeth. 

“ What a damned shame! ” said Burke, his 
blazing eyes following the crowd on its way 
to the prison. “ Only think of treating any 
woman in such a manner ; and one can see ^ 
that she is gently born and bred. By Heaven ! 
it makes one’s blood boil! ” 

The American said not a word, but there 
was a suspicious tightening of the lips that 
showed how deeply he was moved. At 
length he said : “ Come, Burke, let’s go up to 
the Carcel and see if we can learn anything 
concerning these men — and the girl — and per- 
haps there may be some way of aiding her. 
My God! a woman, and treated in such a 
manner ! And they call themselves men ! ’ ’ 

At the prison they learned the time set for 
the trial, which, as we know, was not until 
three days later. From the moment when 
first she looked upon him, Fred Burke loved 
Evangeline ; loved her as only a man like 
himself loves for the first time in the thirty 
years of his life. Blindly, adoringly, hope- 
fully, hopelessly, neither remembering nor 
wishing to remember the many things that 
would keep them forever apart. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


237 


As for Evangeline, she was entirely igno- 
rant of the existence of either Burke or Wil- 
son. Had any one told her that such persons 
existed, and were interested in her fate, aside 
from the hope to which it might have given 
rise, the fact would have had no interest for 
her. So when, because of their credentials, 
and also because of the efforts they made, there 
were present at the trial of the prisoners two 
young men, an Englishman and an American, 
she scarce saw them, and certainly had no 
knowledge that she had ever seen them 
before; while Burke’s heart leaped to his 
throat, and then seemed to stand still when 
her dark sad eyes rested for an instant on his 
face. 

When she was remanded to prison, to be 
retried by military court-martial on the mor- 
row, he made every effort to see her, but 
failed. And although he tried again and 
again, owing to the intense hatred of Berrez, 
it was to no purpose. After she had been 
sentenced, he began at once to make prepara- 
tions to save her. 

“ George, I tell you I shall go mad if she is 
sent to Fernando Po. I must and will save 
her.” He had already confessed his love for 
her, to his companion ; and, pitying him from 


238 


A Cuban Amazon, 


his soul, Wilson had refrained from saying 
anything that should wound or discourage 
him, or remind him of the unlikelihood of 
Evangeline returning his love. Another 
cause kept him silent. He too loved this girl 
whose fate seemed so cruel, and who, at the 
same time, was persecuted by men who at 
every turn thrust her misery into her face, 
with offers to help her if in return she gave 
them her love. He too had been trying to 
determine upon a way to help her to escape — 
but how? 

For hours he and Burke would sit silently 
smoking, neither speaking, and both thinking 
of the same subject. Formerly when together 
they chatted and related their experiences, and 
as neither man was an egotist, and both had 
traveled much and were keen observers, they 
were interesting companions. Now all this 
was changed. The one absorbing theme was 
Evangeline Cisneros. When Burke learned 
of the abuse she had received at the hands of 
Berrez, he swore to kill him, once the fate 
of Evangeline was decided. At last a ray of 
light shone upon the Egyptian darkness of the 
question of her escape. An English schooner, 
“The Ruby,” came into port one morning. 
Her captain, Robert Hughes, was a cousin of 


A Cuban Amazon, 


239 


Burke’s mother, and a friend as well as rela- 
tive of Burke. The vessel was to lie in port 
for a week or ten days, and when Burke told 
Evangeline’s story to the big-hearted captain 
he promised to hide the girl until they were 
out on the open sea, and to land her wherever 
she desired, though he and his vessel were 
bound direct for England. 

“ I mean to take the Senorita to England to 
my mother, if she will go,” said Burke, as the 
red blood mounted to the roots of his fair hair, 
and the blue eyes looked at the captain with 
an appeal in them that was not to be with- 
stood. 

‘ ‘ I fear the poor chap is laying up sorrow 
for himself,” said the captain to Wilson later 
on. “ If the girl is as beautiful as Fred says 
she is, why, she will never marry him unless 
for gratitude — and that’s a mighty uncertain 
feeling to marry on. Gratitude, like all the 
fancy sentiments, won’t bear the wear and 
tear of married life. It requires good old- 
fashioned love, and plenty of it, too;” and 
Captain Hughes pulled savagely the long ends 
of his tawny moustache. Then presently : 

“ Is she so very pretty, this Spanish girl? ” 

“Cuban, my dear Captain. Yes, she’s 
lovely.” And Wilson’s pen traveled over the 
paper hurriedly. 


240 


A Cuban Amazon. 


“ I wonder you’re not in love with her your- 
self, Wilson!” 

“ I am.” The pen never stopped, the eyes 
never lifted. 

“Then why the d — 1 don’t you say so? 
Why don’t you talk about her, too? ” 

‘ ‘ To what purpose. Captain ? I should only 
wound poor old Fred, make him wildly jealous, 
and do myself no good. She will never be 
any more to either of us than she is to-day — if 
I’m any judge of character. If she ever is 
anything more than a stranger to either of us 
it will be to Burke, through gratitude for his 
rescue, if he succeeds, backed by pity for him 
and his hopeless love for her. There comes 
Fred. Not a word. Captain, if you value my 
friendship.” 

“But Wilson, I say — oh, hang it man — ” 
But Fred entered and no more was said at that 
time. 

Although Burke was moving heaven and 
earth to gain an interview with Evangeline, it 
was impossible until after her removal to the 
Carcel Real des Renardios, due probably to 
the influence of Berrez. 


A Cuban Amazon, 


241 


CHAPTER XXV. 

“ For this relief, much thanks. 

^ I am sick at heart.” — Shakespeare. 

*• How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable 
Seem to me all the uses of this world.” 

— Ibid. 

For two weeks Evangeline was forced to 
endure her horrible surroundings. The misery 
about her appealed to her woman’s heart, and 
she began trying to relieve it and in this way 
found some relief for herself. The little 
children touched her heart, and she gave 
them the only care they had ever known in all 
their sad short lives. 

One day one of them said to her, turning 
its fever-tortured little body: “I’m so glad 
the good God sent you here, Senorita! ” 

“ Child, the dear God did not send me 
here ! . Heaven forbid ! Why do you say 
this?” 

“ Because the very day you came, I prayed 
to the Virgin to send some one who would 
give me a drink. I was so thirsty, and no 
one heard me when I cried. Then when you 
16 


242 


A Cuban Amazon. 


came I knew the dear God sent you in answer 
to my prayers.” Touching faith of child- 
hood ! It had asked and had received, as it 
believed, in response to its prayer ! 

During these two weeks Evangeline nursed 
the poor creatures imprisoned with her, doing 
all in her power to relieve their agony. Day 
and night she responded to their calls ; and if 
she was worn and haggard before, it was 
worse now. And yet — it kept her from 
thinking of her own misery, and gave her 
something to do. There is no cure for heart- 
ache so certain as work. How she existed 
from day to day she could not tell. Often 
and often as she stood at the small, barred 
window, gazing out upon the patch of blue 
sky that fairly quivered in the intense heat 
and that looked so fiercely blue — and away to 
where the greenish blue of the ocean swept 
off, and rolled on and on until its waves broke 
upon the shores of that land “of every land 
the pride,” where despite their trials and 
troubles men and women are yet free — she 
wished passionately that she might fling her- 
self into the outstretched arms of the sea and 
let the waves bear her onward to that free 
land, or take her down into its cool caverns, 
where rest and sleep and peace would come 
to her weary brain and world-sick soul. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


243 


If only peace could come to this land of 
hers, this desolated Cuba! Her life was 
wrecked ; never again could she dream of 
home and loving husband and little ones prat- 
tling about her knees ; but once this cruel war 
was over, she could find work to fill her 
hands. There would be hundreds of sin-sick 
souls to tend; hundreds of young women, the 
cast-off debris of the armies, to be turned 
again toward honest paths — reclaimed from 
utter destruction ; and her bitter experience 
had especially fitted her for such work. If 
only she might fill her hands and the re- 
mainder of her life with good deeds ! 

Ah, Divine Lord ! surely she had suffered 
enough. When would there be an end to it.^ 
When 

“Senorita! ” 

She started. So wrapt in her own thoughts 
had she been that she had not heard the door 
open, and not until the old Alquazil had 
called her the third time did she turn. The 
old man was too fond of life and its concomi- 
tant joys and pleasures to risk entering the 
infected room. 

“ Senorita, there are three gentlemen in my 
rooms who wish to see you. Come! ” 

“But, Senor, I will subject them to the 
dangers of infection if I go.” 


A Cuban Amazon, 


244 

“ So I told them, Senorita, but they each 
declare they have no fears. Come, Senor- 
ita ! ” 

She followed him along the hall and out 
through a passageway where she caught a 
sight of the green grass and the waving trees. 
She flung her arms apart as widely as her 
manacles would permit as she cried : “Ah! 
thank heaven for a breath of pure sweet air!” 

Reaching the little parlor of the Alquazil, 
she found Captain Hughes, Fred Burke, and 
the American correspondent, George Wilson. 

“ Senorita,” said the American, after the 
informal introductions were finished, “ we 
bring you some news that we hope you may 
find agreeable. Your sentence of death has 
been commuted to twenty years’ banishment 
in chains to Fernando Po.” 

“ Indeed, Senor, I scarce know whether 
that is not worse than death would be ! ” 

“Oh, no; for freedom 'will come to this 
land, and then freedom to those at Fernando 
Po; but for those who are dead, what for 
them.?” 

“Peace, the ‘peace that passeth under- 
standing,’ ” she replied quietly. Then she 
added quickly: “Tell me of my dear, dear 
father, Senors. What of him? Lives he still, 
or have those butchers taken his life ! ” 


A Cuban Amazon. 


245 


It was hard to tell her a falsehood, and yet 
not one of the three could tell her the truth ; 
so one and all pretended to be entirely igno- 
rant of Cisneros’ fate. Captain Hughes and 
Wilson withdrew to a window, while Burke 
talked with Evangeline. In a straightfor- 
ward, manly way he told her of his first sight 
of her, and how he had loved her from that 
moment ; that he had never loved any woman 
in his life before, save his mother; that she 
had come into his life like an angel of light ; 
that her sufferings pierced him to the heart ; 
and that since the moment when first their 
eyes met he had been planning and plotting 
for her escape. Captain Hughes would smug- 
gle her away. The “Ruby” would lay to 
within sight of the Carcel ; the Alquazil 
from henceforth would be both blind and 
deaf to her movements. When all was ready 
she would, some night, between midnight and 
morning, walk out and down to the shore, 
where a boat would be in waiting to row her 
in safety to the ship. 

“ The rest is easy, Senorita,” he went on; 
‘ ‘ you can go direct to my mother, who will 
be only too happy to receive you as her daugh- 
ter. I realize, Senorita, that I am but a hunch- 
back — deformed— dwarfish — hideous ! But I 


246 


A Cuban Amazon. 


love you, oh, my adored one ! as women are 
seldom loved ! ’ ’ 

The long slender fingers of Evangeline 
locked and unlocked themselves nervously; 
the heavy lashes hid the beautiful eyes ; the 
pale lips trembled and her bosom heaved as 
Burke talked. When he broke out passion- 
ately against his deformity she lifted a depre- 
catory hand, and then went on nervously 
again clasping and unclasping her fingers. 
Still no word escaped her lips. At length she 
said in her trembling voice : 

“You do not know my story, Senor, else 
you would not thus importune my love. 
Evangeline Cisneros can never be your wife — 
ior your sake — and she can be nothing lower 
for /ler own! ” 

“ Senorita! I know everything! You have 
been a martyr — and I venerate you beyond all 
women ! Senorita — Evangeline — believe me 
— I love you truly, honestly, beyond every- 
thing that life holds : with you for my wife, 
to brighten my home — Evangeline, do not 
refuse my prayer! ” 

“ Senor,” she said sadly, “ I thank you 
from my soul for the honor you offer me ; and 
believe me that you will ever fill the tenderest 
place in my heart that can be filled by any 


A Cuban Amazon, 


247 


living man save my venerated father. But, 
Senor, my heart is dead to love ; as dead as 
last year’s roses ; and I can never love again ! 
Besides all that, Senor, you are so good, so 
honest, that you deserve a wife of whom you 
could be proud, and for whose history you 
need not blush ; while alas ! mine has blots — 
great, black, hellish blots that it makes me 
soul-sick to remember. Senor, I could not go 
to your mother and not tell her, and to tell 
her the truth would break her heart. Besides, 
Senor, the facts could not be hidden if you 
tried, and I could not and would not seek to 
hide them. I have done no wrong, but the 
circumstances remain, and to burden an hon- 
est man with a wife whose story is as shame- 
ful as mine, and with it all give to him a dead 
heart, a heart that can never again throb with 
love ! Oh, Senor, I can not ! I can not ! ” 

“But, Senorita, I will teach you to love 
me. Surely, such love as mine must compel 
some return. I will take you away from all 
these troubled scenes, and amid peace and 
love and tenderness, you will cease to remem- 
ber them in pain and sorrow, even if entire 
forgetfulness never comes.” 

“Alas, Senor! Let us not deceive our- 
selves. I can never love any man. That is 


248 


A Cuban Amazon. 


past, and he to whom I gave my entire soul 
awaits me beyond this weary world, and I am 
as truly his wife as that I live ; and I shall put 
my hand in his, when we meet, and say to 
him, ‘ Carlos, I have kept my troth.’ But, 
granting for the sake of argument, that time 
and love and tender care could bring peace : 
think, Senor, could I ever cradle child of 
mine in these arms? Would not a glance 
from the innocent eyes crush me with shame? 
And to be questioned by innocent, childish 
lips, as their dear arms clasped my neck, 
would kill me! Nay, Senor, your heart is 
good and kind, and you mean well — and from 
my heart I thank you — but I can not be your 
wife, nor can I accept the home you offer me. 
My life — the remnant of it — belongs here in 
my own land and with my own people. If I 
may think of you as happy, Senor, as having 
forgotten Evangeline Cisneros, that will be 
the greatest consolation and joy you can give 
me.” 

“Evangeline ” the poor fellow’s lips 

were pale, his face seamed and drawn with 
pain ; ‘ ‘ surely you do not think so meanly of 
me as to believe that unless you will be my 
wife, I will not aid you to escape ! The same 
offer is open to you, and ‘ The Ruby ’ will 


A Cuban Amazon. 


249 


land you at any port you may choose. Only 
do not remain here, to be taken to that hell 
on earth — Fernando Po.” 

“ If I may take my father with me, Senor; 
but I would not go to Paradise and leave him 
behind! ” 

Long they reasoned with her, but she re- 
mained obdurate and they were forced to 
leave with that understanding, and with her 
reiterated declaration that her future work 
belonged to Cuba ; and with that Burke was 
forced to be content, at least for the present. 
They went away, promising to return again, 
and. leaving her some fruit; Burke took the 
opportunity to tell her that she need not re- 
turn to that vile den, wherein lay the sick and 
dying, and the old jailer informed her that 
she could, until her departure, use his parlor 
and books whenever she so pleased. 

That night Evangeline, as she lay once 
more on a comfortable bed, thanked God for 
the good friends she had found, and wept 
that she could not return the love of that 
brave, true heart, Fred Burke. 


250 


A Cuban Amazon, 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

“ Dead ! Dead ! my lords and gentlemen, and dying 
thus every day.” — Charles Dickens. 

“He shall return no more to his house, neither 
shall his place know him any more.” — Old Testa- 
ment. 

Cisneros lay in prison fora week before he 
was able to stand trial, but at length the 
blood-thirsty tribunal would wait no longer, 
so ordered him to be brought before them. 

He entered the court-room tottering with 
weakness from his wounds. His weary eyes 
roved over the assembly, but saw not a friendly 
face. Yes, there to the left sat a hunchback, 
with the face of a Greek god and the body of 
a Caliban, and the fine countenance was full of 
pity and the eyes filled with tears of sympathy. 

The court opened and the questioning be- 
gan. “ Prisoner, what is your name?” 

“ Francisco Vincente Cisneros.” 

“Prisoner, you are accused of treasonable 
conspiracy against the liberties of Cuba ; of 
attempting to overthrow the government of 
Alfonzo XIII., King of Spain, and to bring 


A Cuban Amazon, 


251 


about the substitution of a republic ; besides, 
of carrying on a traitorous correspondence 
with Maximo Gomez at San Juan de Yava. 
Are you guilty or not guilty as herein 
charged? ” 

“ Senors, I confess my correspondence with 
General Gomez, and as well my desire to form 
a republic, and to redeem my beloved Cuba 
from the iron yoke of Spain.” 

“So! There rests only for you, then, Fran- 
cisco Vincente Cisneros, to relate fully and 
faithfully the details of your conspiracy.” 

At this moment Cisneros sank to the ground 
and from sheer physical weakness was unable 
to rise. At a motion from the judge the guards 
prodded him with their sharp bayonets, but 
though he moaned with pain his strength was 
gone and he lay helpless. At this instant the 
Englishman sprang forward, and before even 
the startled guard could realize his intention 
he had covered the body of Cisneros with his 
own as he shouted : 

“Back! back! you Spanish devils ! ” Then 
turning to the judge he cried : “ Shame, eter- 
nal shame upon you ! Can’t you see the man is 
ill and too weak to stand? Are ye men or 
demons? If you are men, then give him a 
chair and treat him like a human creature!” 


252 


A Cuban Amazon. 


“ Who are you, young Senor, and what is 
your relation to the prisoner ? ’ ’ asked the 
judge, gazing at the flashing eyes and pale 
determined face of the young man. 

“ My name is Fred Burke, English war cor- 
respondent, and I am nothing whatever to the 
prisoner; but such inhumanity makes my 
blood boil. Nay, I’m not afraid of your ar.^ 
resting me. Spain has no desire to hear the 
British lion roar in anger. My flag and my 
government protect me.” 

“Give the prisoner a chair!” 

This being done, the prisoner was for two 
hours compelled to answer questions, begin- 
ning again with: “Prisoner, give the de- 
tails of your conspiracy — and give them truth- 
fully.” 

“ That is impossible, Senor,” said Cisneros. 

“ Impossible! Why? Beware how you re- 
ply, lest you be committed for contempt of 
court.” 

If lips so ghastly could be said to smile, 
then those of Cisneros smiled. To one on 
trial for his life, contempt of court has no 
terrors. “It is impossible because, doing as 
I please with my own life, I will not betray 
the lives of others.” 

“And yet you would have betrayed my 


A Cuhaft Amazon. 


253 


— together with many others by your 
schemes.” 

“No, not betrayed; you did not trust in 
me.” 

“Your silence can not save the lives of 
those taken red-handed in your company.” 

“ But it can save my honor.” 

“Prisoner, I command that you tell the 
court the strength of the army of the traitor, 
Maximo Gomez.” 

“ In round numbers.? I do not know.” 

“ Then tell the court the approximate num- 
ber.” 

“All true Cubans! They are not all fight- 
ing in the army — some serve their country as 
I do, by dying for her ! ” 

“ Silence, prisoner !” Cisneros bowed. His 
answers and his firm, proud bearing were 
making an impression on the crowd such as 
the judge was not pleased to see. Despite his 
being looked upon as a traitor by the Spaniards, 
his valor and his genius had gained him many 
admirers, even amongst his foes. Besides, the 
sentence of Cassuso, his kinsman, one of the 
brightest legal lights of the island, was not a 
popular sentence, and sympathy was strong 
for both men. 

‘ ‘ What are the plans of Gomez ? ’ ’ 


254 


A Cuban Amazon, 


“ Senor, I know not ; but if I did, bethink 
you how idle would be that question. The 
Cisneros never betray, though themselves be- 
trayed, ’ ’ 

“ What defense can you make for your own 
crimes ? ’ ’ 

“Crimes? I have committed no crimes. 
If seeing one’s beloved country in the grasp 
of those who with iron hand are crushing out 
her sweet life, and striving with might and 
main to loosen those mailed fingers from her 
fair throat be a crime, then am I a criminal! 
If to wish beyond every hope of life or peace 
or joy to see Cuba free and independent, to 
see her take her place among the nations of 
the earth be a crime, then of that too am I 
guilty ! If to avenge the dishonoring of a be- 
loved daughter just stepping into fair woman- 
hood be a crime, of that too am I guilty. But 
if putting to death innocent men, women, and 
children to gratify a private revenge, if to rob 
maidens of their honor, to betray friends who 
trust in one, to use and abuse the power con- 
fided in one by the government, for one’s own 
vile ends — if all these be crimes in the eyes of 
the court, then, Senors, I am not guilty! ” 

For a moment there was silence ; then the 
judge said : “Prisoner at the bar, you have 


j 4. Cuban A.mazon. 


255 


been adjudged guilty of the crimes wherewith 
you were charged, and are condemned by this 
court to die by the garrote to-morrow morn- 
ing at seven o’clock.” 

Cisneros felt keenly the indignity of the 
garrote and pleaded hard that he might be shot 
instead, but the court was deaf to his entreaties, 
and at length the judge said : “ Prisoner, you 
but waste words ; the court has condemned 
you to die a traitor’s death, and the decree of 
the court is fixed.” 

Cisneros rested his eyes upon the face of the 
judge, and saw that further words were use- 
less. Then his pride and his fortitude came 
back to him. ‘ ‘ I have indeed wasted words, ’ ’ 
he said. “ I begged for one poor boon of one 
whom I fancied might know the meaning of 
the word ‘justice.’ I prayed in vain, and am 
prepared now for the worst. On the thresh- 
hold of the great Unknown World, the curtain 
of the future is for an instant torn aside, and I 
see as in a glass darkly. Judge, I go before, 
to announce your coming. Before many days 
are past room must be made in limbo for one 
more powerful than I.” 

The judge turned pale and pressed his hand 
to his heart. Then he cried passionately : 


256 


A Cuban Amazon. 


“Silence, prisoner! Guards, convey your 
charge back to prison!’’ 

The court was broken up and the prisoner 
carried back to his cell, being unable to walk. 
Fearing that he might die of his wounds and 
thus rob them of a sweet morsel of revenge, 
all preparations were hurried forward with 
brutal haste. That night he was carried across 
to Cubanas, and, wounded as he was, taken 
to the chapel and laid before the altar to spend 
those last hours in preparation for death.* 

All that long night he lay before the altar 
and prayed God to permit death to intervene 
and save him from this last ignominy which 
the Spaniards would heap upon him. 

* All condemned are thus taken to the chapel and 
allowed to pray before the altar, this being consid- 
ered a special privilege and kindness. Americans, 
however, are exempt, being considered unworthy so 
much grace. 


A Cuban Amazon, 


257 


CHAPTER XXVII. 

“ They never fail who die in a great cause.” 

— Byron. 

“ Death is not the worst evil, but rather when we 
wish to die and can not.” — Sophocles. 

To the , heart that seems bursting with its 
misery and that implores the Almighty to act 
solely in its behalf, the silence of the silvery 
winking stars, the pale soft radiance of the 
moon as she sails majestically onward, or the 
unanswering brass of the noon-day sky, all, 
all seem to mock at the misery they do not 
help. But to the one who looks on calmly, who 
sees and notes the fixity of the laws of nature 
and of nature’s God, it but proves that man is 
but one of the Almighty’s cares, and for naught 
does He turn aside from the fixity of his de- 
signs, even though we implore until the end. 

All through the long watches of that last 
night Cisneros besought death to come. His 
wounds were in so serious a state that death 
could have taken him at any moment. Twice 
he fainted from exhaustion, and he hoped, as 
his surroundings began slipping away, that 

17 


258 


A Cuban Amazon, 


his prayers were being answered ; but death 
shuns the wretch to whom it would be a boon 
most welcome, and Cisneros opened his eyes 
again, only to find that the gift so prayed for 
was withheld. 

At length the gray in the east was streaked 
with rosy bands that deepened, and broadened, 
and the red light upon the hilltops heralded 
the rising sun. The soft twittering of birds 
made the air sweet with melody. Already a 
crowd began to gather, for the old man was 
much beloved ; and strange as it may seem, 
the rabble attend most largely the executions 
of two kinds of people — those whom they love 
and those whom they hate. 

Up burst the sun over the distant hills, and 
Cisneros knew that his last hour had come. 
Precisely at six o’clock the band commenced 
to play the Cuban national dance, followed by 
selections from popular operas, for the amuse- 
ment of the crowd of onlookers gathered there, 
some to enjoy the gruesome spectacle ; others 
through idle curiosity; others again because 
of their sympathy and love for the brave old 
man who was to die- so ignominious a death. 

At six-thirty o’clock the priest, accompa- 
nied by a body of troops and the undertakers, 
arrived. Cisneros spoke some comforting 


A Cuban Amazon, 


259 


words to his followers whom as a great favor 
he was permitted to bid farewell. They wept 
and would have kissed his venerated hands, 
but the guard cut short the interview and they 
were hurried away. Being unable to walk, 
Cisneros was carried to the scaffold and placed 
in the fatal chair. He was hastily but securely 
bound with his arms behind him. His face 
was pale, but not more so than his wounds 
warranted. There was not the quiver of an 
eyelash to betoken fear or trembling, but 
rather was his face radiated by a light from 
within, that betokened the lofty courage of a 
hero and the self-acquittal of a martyr. 

Calmly his gaze swept the multitude, over 
whom a dead hush lay, like a heavy air. 
Close at hand he recognized the pale, godlike 
face of the Englishman. A faint smile — the 
veriest ghost of a smile — lighted the counte- 
nance of the prisoner. Suddenly he lifted his 
head proudly and cried in a loud firm voice, 
‘ ‘ Viva Cuba Libre! ’ ’ A murmur ran through 
the crowd ; they swayed to and fro, and the 
Spanish officer in command fearing a demon- 
stration came forward, and as Cisneros at- 
tempted to speak to him struck him a heavy 
blow across the face with the flat of his 
sword, and the blood streamed from the 
cruelly wounded mouth. 


26 o 


A Cuban Amazon, 


A howl of rage and disgust went up from 
the crowd at this sight ; they breathed heav- 
ily, and a voice shouted : “ Coward and das- 

tard ! thus to strike a prisoner strapped and 
bound! For shame!” 

The movement among the people was very 
quickly suppressed. The priest who stood 
near gave his blessing and retired, muttering 
prayers for the dead. The executioner stepped 
forward, there was a slight clicking move- 
ment, and the white soul of Francisco Vin- 
cente Cisneros, the Cuban patriot, was 
launched into the great Eternal Unknown. 
The last murmur that left his lips and min- 
gled with the song of birds and every pure 
and lovely sound in nature, was “ Evangeline ! 

Viva Cuba Libre! 

Thus perished a brave man, and a man 
whose counsel was ever for the good of the 
multitude. His life was pure and gentle. He 
loved justice and hated tyranny. To those 
dependent upon him he was ever the kindest 
and most indulgent of masters, and his peo- 
ple obeyed and served through love, not fear. 
The cruelties and indignities that he suffered 
at the hands of the Spaniards made of him a 
martyr, and the people remember him with 
admiration for his heroism and compassion 
for his end. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


261 


That night by means of bribes Fred Burke 
procured from the undertaker the signet ring 
which Cisneros always wore, and which bore 
the arms of his house intaglio, and was used 
to stamp all private papers. Some time, 
when poor Evangeline can bear to be told 
the truth, and will be permitted to retain pos- 
session thereof, she will receive it, together 
with a lock of the long silvery hair which 
crowned the head of one of Cuba’s noblest 
patriots. 

Regarding Cisneros’ prophecy concerning 
the judge who condemned him, on the fourth 
day following the execution this judge was 
found seated in his library beside a table 
thickly strewn with papers, his head bowed 
forward on his hands — dead! Between his 
shoulders a Spanish stiletto, driven in to the 
hilt, and attached to the handle a paper on 
which was written in Spanish : 

“‘The tree of liberty only grows when 
watered by the blood of tyrants.’ Viva 
Cuba Libre! 

Thus in the death of Cisneros was added 
another count to the long list of Spanish 
atrocities. 

The execution of the remaining prisoners 
took place a little later, those sentenced to 


262 


A Cuban Amazon. 


the garrote being murdered the morning after 
their leader. The same chair was used for 
all, the men accepting their fate and walking 
to their doom unflinchingly. Their defiant 
cry was the same as that which their leader 
had uttered: “ Viva Cuba Libre/ 

This time the guards paid but little or no 
attention to the words, and aside from watch- 
ing the crowd narrowly for signs of an out- 
break let all movements pass unheeded. The 
poor fellows said to their comrades as each in 
turn walked toward the fatal chair : 

'■'‘Adios — Viva Cuba Libre! '''' as though 
the parting was to be in reality for but a 
short time. The others answered each time : 
^^Adios! Viva Cuba Libre ! This may 
be fanaticism ; many there are who call it so, 
but it is grand even to sublimity. 

To those who were to be shot, there were 
given a few more days ; a few more in which 
to furnish amusement to the guards, and in 
which their jailers made brutal sport of them. 
They would enter the cell, and singling out 
one man would tell him to say good-bye to 
his comrades, as he was “ for chapel ” that 
night. Saying that they would return for 
him later, they would go away. All this was 
a monstrous hoax. The poor fellow would 


yl Cuban Amazon. 


263 


wait anxiously all day, every step that came 
and went in the corridor falling upon his 
listening ear like the curse of doom. With 
hellish ingenuity the guards and jailers would 
promenade through the corridor, the clank of 
arms penetrating plainly to the ears of the 
listening victim, thus torturing him for hours. 

This was continued at intervals throughout 
the day, and when night came and brought 
with it no escort, the agonized, pent up feel- 
ings of the wretched prisoner would give 
way, and he was sure to break down. The 
long continued strain was more than human 
nerves could endure, and despite all his efforts 
at control, this agonized human creature — 
whose greatest crime consisted in loving lib- 
erty and hating oppression — would sink with 
a deep and gasping cry upon the stone floor 
of his cell, and covering his face with his 
hands burst into an agony of grief. 

This damnable torture the jailers played so 
often that when the dread hour did arrive, 
instead of finding the men with spirits bro- 
ken, they found them obstinate and stubborn. 


264 


A Cuban Amazon. 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

“ Douglas ! tender and true, adieu ! adieu ! ! ” 

— Old Song. 

“Affliction may one day smile again; and till then, 
sit thee down, sorrow! ” — Love's Labor Lost. 

As THE days went by, not one but found 
Burke a visitor at the Carcel Real des Renar- 
dios. So effectually had his money done its 
work that it is doubtful if the Alquazil, find- 
ing Evangeline gone, would have given the 
alarm at all, and certainly not until he was 
satisfied that ample time had passed for her 
to escape to her friends. 

The oftener that Burke saw Evangeline, 
the more completely and entirely did he give 
up his heart into her keeping. Every thought, 
every feeling, every hope was for her, and all 
the time that could be taken from his labors 
was spent either at her side or in her service. 

Captain Hughes was still holding “The 
Ruby,” in the hope of Evangeline being 
moved to accept the offer of a home in safety 
and love, with Fred’s mother. At first Evan- 
geline had refused positively ; but Burke had 


A Cuban Amazon. 


265 


pleaded so hard that the girl, grateful as she 
was for the many kindnesses that had been 
shown her by the great-hearted fellow, prom- 
ised at length to give the matter deep consid- 
eration, and asked for the ten days’ time, 
during which “The Ruby” lay anchored in 
the bay, in order that it might be ready in 
case her father could escape, as she positively 
refused to go without him. The days were 
full of grave deep thought for Evangeline, 
but try as she might she could not bring her- 
self to leave Cuba. 

To become the wife of Burke — of any man 
— that was entirely beyond consideration. 
The reasons she had given to him when first 
he broached the matter to her ; and those rea- 
sons would remain the same until the end of 
time. Sometimes she permitted her thoughts 
to stray away into the future, and herself to 
build “air castles;” and then she tried to 
fancy herself the wife of Burke, in an Eng- 
lish home, her father beside her, her husband 
— with a start she would come back to earth, 
and remember sadly that Carlos was among 
those “gone before,” and the man whose 
wife she could never be, was — Burke ! 

Kind, generous, knightly, a man with a 
heart gentle as a woman’s, and an intellect 


266 


A Cuban Amazon. 


keen, self-reliant, able to cope with the world 
and master it ; still she could not love him, 
and she was too conscientious to take all, and 
bestow nothing in return. On the morrow she 
was to give her final answer ; and all through 
the soft, warm night she had been thinking — 
thinking — praying — asking for a sign from 
above to point the way. Through the 
watches of the night she would stand gazing 
from her window, the bars of which were the 
merest slats of wood, and only “ put there to 
prevent questions being asked by the Inspec- 
tor,” the Alquazil told her when he added 
them ; for Evangeline no longer lodged with 
the sick, the diseased, and the dying ; Fred 
Burke’s money had changed all that, and 
while the room was small and bare, it was 
clean and fresh, and held many little comforts 
that prison cells do not hold. All these had 
been purchased for her use by Burke ; but 
Evangeline was unaware of it, else she would 
have been overwhelmed with shame and con- 
fusion because of the lack of return made to 
the kind heart that surrounded her with so 
many little tokens of thoughtfulness and con- 
sideration. 

On this night as she stood beside the win- 
dow, so entirely alone in the world, gazing 


A Cuban Amazon, 


267 


out into the starlight, all manner of reveries 
came over her from the great expanse of 
space and mingled with her thoughts. What 
a spectacle is night ! We hear dull sounds, 
not knowing whence they come ; we see Ju- 
piter, twelve hundred times larger than the 
Earth, glistening like an ember ; the welkin 
is black, the stars sparkle ; it is terror-inspir- 
ing! 

She felt as if a tide were swelling and ris- 
ing within her ; there were moments when it 
seemed to her abnormally acute senses that 
her father was passing by her like a breath, 
and whispering in her ear. Gradually her mind 
began to wander ; she thought she heard the 
roll of drums, the snarling of trumpets, the 
measured tread of the battalions, the words 
in her father’s voice; “Evangeline — Viva 
Cuba Libre! ” From time to time she lifted 
her eyes to the agonized face of the carven 
Christ on the cross that hung above her bed, 

^ then back again to the limitless abysses 
wherein shone the mighty constellations. Her 
heart seemed full to bursting. Then as she 
knelt there she remembered the sorrows that 
were hers. Her home lost, destroyed, the 
deep and beautiful love of her youth blighted, 
her lover killed, her honor violated, her 


268 


A Cuban Amazon. 


friends dead, her people murdered, her 
father’s fate unknown to her — but her own 
heart telling her to expect the worst, because 
the fiend who had wrought all this misery in 
her life would not spare her beloved father. 

She thought of her country, her bleeding, 
suffering Cuba, that fertile island, gifted with 
everything to make her one of the brightest 
spots in the entire world if only she could 
throw off the Spanish yoke and the Spanish 
oppression, and take her rightful place beside 
her sister republics. And oh! to have con- 
tributed ever so slightly towards that grand 
result, was almost worth the suffering she had 
endured ! 

Borne in upon her was the conviction that 
before very many months had passed, freedom 
would come to her oppressed people ; and 
then — then here was the place and here the 
work for the remainder of her life. She could 
not and did not feel that she would ever go to 
Fernando Po. No, Evangeline Cisneros was 
intended for greater work than slaving in the 
cane fields in chains ! When once the Spanish 
invade, was driven out of her fondly loved 
Cuba, then would come the work of recon- 
structing the homes and the communities that 
the crimes of war had desolated ; the saving 


A Cuba7i Amazon. 


from despair and degradation of those poor 
souls who like herself had been robbed of 
everything — and the leading them toward 
goodness and mercy and clean lives. And 
who so fitted for such work as one who had 
suffered the same, yea, even greater wrongs 
than they? 

No ! She was decided now. Nothing 
could shake her resolution more. Here was 
her land, her work, the only home she could 
ever know. If by any good fortune her 
beloved father yet lived, and could be aided 
to escape, she would forever bless the good- 
ness and tenderness of those friends who 
thus assisted. But hard as it was for her, 
cruel as was the pain she must inflict, she 
must refuse Burke’s offer for herself, and tell 
him how impossible it would be for her ever 
— now or at any future time — to give him 
anything more than her tender, devoted friend- 
ship. Had fate been kinder to her, and to 
him, both would have made good, devoted, 
and loving companions ; she for Carlos, and 
Burke for some gentle English maiden. But 
now, alas! both were doomed to lives of 
loneliness and sorrow ; for in her soul she 
feels that Burke will not marry nor ever 
again love as now he loves Evangeline Cis- 


neros. 


270 


A Cuban Amazon. 


Thus passed the night. The dawn broke 
slowly upon the little room, lighting up its 
whitewashed walls, kissing into splendor and 
making sparkle as with diamonds the lace- 
like web spun by a busy spider, who now sat 
enthroned therein awaiting the coming with- 
in reach of some unlucky fly. As a ray of 
the sun flashed in the east, it fell like a glory 
over the crucifix placed above Evangeline’s 
bed, and brought startlingly before her eyes 
that face upon which the rudest of Catholic 
sculptors rarely fails to preserve the mystic and 
awful union of the expiring anguish of th 
man, with the lofty patience of the God. It 
looked upon her, that face ; it invited, it en- 
couraged, while it thrilled and subdued. She 
crept to the spot and flung herself on her 
knees before the consecrated image. 

“Support me, O Redeemer!” she mur- 
mured; “support thy child! strengthen her 
steps in the blessed path she has chosen ; and 
if there be a sacrifice in her solemn choice, ac- 
cept it, O Thou the crucified, accept it in atone- 
ment for any wrong my people may have done, 
and free them from bondage, even as Thou 
dost free from sin those who believe in and 
love Thee ! ’ ’ 

From the hour when first he had looked into 


A Cuban Amazon, 


271 


Evangeline’s eyes, as she raised them filled 
with misery and tears as she passed down the 
street on her way to prison, Fred Burke had 
loved her to the complete and entire abnega- 
tion of self. In the few weeks that had 
elapsed since that day he had learned to love 
the girl as men love only when the tender pas- 
sion, having been a stranger to them in early 
years, comes first when their manhood is in its 
full fruition. 

In the beginning he talked freely with his 
friends of his love for Evangeline, to the 
American, Wilson, and to the captain ; but of 
late he spoke of her only in connection with 
the plans for her escape, and the sorrow he 
endured in hearing her speak of her father, of 
whose fate she was still entirely ignorant. As 
for Wilson he locked his hopeless love within 
his heart, and as is so often the case with strong 
natures, suffered the more keenly. As soon 
as was practicable, Burke drove to the Carcel 
to learn Evangeline’s answer. Despite the 
fact that she had from the beginning rejected 
the idea of flight for herself, Burke could not 
believe but that when the time drew near for 
‘ ‘ The Ruby ’’ to sail, Evangeline would accept 
the freedom offered her. 

Everything was ready for flight. The old 


272 


A Cuban Amazon. 


Alquazil had been promised two hundred dol- 
lars in gold — a fortune to him, and having re- 
ceived a part thereof, had agreed to everything 
proposed by Burke. Evangeline was an ex- 
cellent swimmer, and it was proposed that 
through the connivance of the old jailer she 
was to reach the water, the particular way to 
be determined by circumstances ; and once in 
the water, she was safe. She would swim 
towards “ The Ruby ” lying at anchor within 
reach, until picked up by her men, who, at a 
given signal from the Alquazil, would put 
out from the vessel and rescue the girl. 

Dangerous! Yes. But most escapes are 
fraught with danger. It is only in novels that 
the heroine is clasped in the hero’s arms and 
carried to safety, followed by the applause of 
the watching multitude. 

Before Burke was admitted to the girl’s 
presence he stood watching her, himself un- 
seen. So deep had been her reverie that she 
had not heard the outer prison door unlock 
and open to admit him. Even as he gazed 
his heart swelled with pity and love, and the 
tears softened his blue eyes. The dejected at- 
titude, the drooping head, the hands clasped 
upon the knees — all sufficed to denote the 
melancholy nature of the reverie in which 


A Cuban Amazon, 273 

Evangeline indulged. A few tears, large and 
bitter, broke from her eyes and stole unheeded 
down her cheek. The dark eyes held an abid- 
ing sadness in their depths, even when the 
little ghost of a smile would wander round 
her lips. 

“ Evangeline ! Dear heart ! ” 

She started to her feet, and then after an 
instant held out her hand. Burke took it and 
lifted it to his lips, while a look of pain flitted 
like a shadow over her face. 

“ Evangeline, everything is done for your 
escape that I can do ; the rest depends upon 
you. You have only to be brave and all will 
go well. I will myself be in the boat that 
puts out for you. Ah! once away from this 
den of devilish iniquity and in England’s 
fair domain, and it shall go hard if I do not 
bring the roses to your pale cheeks.” 

She shook her head. “You do not mean 
to be so, Senor, but you are cruel to me, and 
force me to be in turn cruel to you, my one 
only good friend.” 

“Evangeline, you know I would die to 
save you pain — how then can I be cruel to 
you?” 

“Alas! you force me to refuse the kindness 
you offer me ; you force me to give you pain. 
18 


274 


A Cuban Amazon. 


Senor, I can not accept your offer — I — I — can 
not leave Cuba! Oh! ” she said as she saw 
his face grow ashen and heard the groan that 
escaped his lips — “oh, Senor, believe me, I 
would go if my conscience — my most sacred 
convictions — did not tie me here. Senor, my 
work lies here ; I can not — I must not leave. 
If you can remove my dear, dear father, I will 
— go on my knees to thank you — but ” 

“ Child,” he interrupted hoarsely, “ that is 
beyond me to do. Believe me, if I could res- 
cue your father you would not need to ask it 
of me. But I can not! ” 

“ Then, Senor, less than ever can I go and 
leave him behind ! ’ ’ 

“You can not serve him in any way by re- 
maining, and you might, perhaps, if you were 
away ” 

He hesitated. She finished the sentence : 
“ I might serve him? That is too vague to 
risk, Senor.” 

“ Oh, think, think, Evangeline! To what 
do you condemn yourself? Twenty years of 
Fernando Po — in chains! My God! It is 
going to hell ! ” 

The girl gazed at him with unseeing eyes. 
It was as though she were looking beyond, 
and into the future. 


A Cuban Amazon. 


275 


“Think well of the consequences of your 
refusal to accept freedom — liberty — every- 
thing that makes life dear and sweet ! Think 
of the consequences; you do not see them 
now. But when hour after hour, day 
after day, year after year steals on in the 
horrors of that damnable prison — that torture 
chamber of hell ! — when you see your youth 
withering — your heart consuming itself in 
bitterness — when for the slightest error com- 
mitted there is the dark cell, or mayhap the 
lash — when the misery round about you mad- 
dens even while you are powerless to render 
aid — when youth and health and strength are 
gone — what will you have gained.? Oh, Evan- 
geline ! do not reject me. You do not know 
how rare and how deep a love you cast away.” 

The girl was touched. The earnest love 
that breathed in his voice, that looked from his 
eyes, struck a chord in her breast. It re- 
minded her of her own unconquered, uncon- 
querable love for her lost lover, Carlos. She 
was touched then, touched to tears ; but her 
resolves were not shaken. 

“Oh, Evangeline!” resumed Burke, fondly, 
mistaking the nature of her emotion, and seek- 
ing to pursue the advantage he fancied he had 
gained, “look at that sunbeam struggling 


276 


A Cuban Amazon. 


through the loophole of your cell. Is it not a 
messenger from the happy world? Does it 
not plead for me ? Does it not whisper to you 
of green fields and fair skies, of love and 
friends and tender home-coming ; of a moth- 
er’s affection — for my mother will take you to 
her heart as a daughter — and all this you are 
about to renounce forever? Do you so dread 
my love? Do you so hate me? Is the sight 
of me so obnoxious that ypu prefer chains and 
slavery to the protection of my arms? ” 

“Oh, spare yourself! spare us both! ” she 
cried, unable longer to endure the misery of 
his face. “ I am deeply and sincerely grateful 
to you for your goodness to me ; and I do, I 
do appreciate the honor you do me in offering 
me your name and your honest manly love. I 
have pondered well over the resolve I have 
taken. It is borne in upon my senses clearly, 
irresistibly, that Evangeline Cisneros will 
never go to Fernando Po. There is work for 
her here in her own land when once she is 
free ; and free she will be ! It may be many 
months, but the time is coming when the 
gyves shall be stricken from the wrists of Cuba 
and the chains from off her limbs. Oh, my 
Cuba! land of my birth, may God speed that 
day on the wings of the lightning ! Then to 


A Cuban Amazon. 


277 


be here, to minister to the needs of my 
wretched people, that solace would be dearer 
to me than all the joys of the world ! ” 

Burke covered his face with his hands, and 
sinking on his knees groaned aloud. 

“Go, then, brave, true, noble heart! Goto 
the destiny that awaits you. It will give you 
peace and joy and the happiness that you de- 
serve. Go, and my fondest thoughts, my most 
earnest prayers, go with you!” 

“Alas! alas! ” said the poor fellow mourn- 
fully, “my soul cries out for you, its adored 
one ! Take time to pause, to consider. Let 

me see you again to-morrow ” 

“No, dear friend, no; not again! It can 
only give pain to your generous heart, and 
I — ” a gentle look came into her soft eyes — 
“ indeed, I can bear but little more!” 

“ Nay, then, since it must be so, farewell! 
I love you too fondly to add one single pang 
to the sorrows you must endure. But should 
you ever change your resolve, or should it be 
that I can in any way serve you, one line, one 
word will bring me to your side. Farewell, 
farewell, the one love of my life ! Grant me 
but one favor, the last — kiss me once, as we 
kiss our dead — for the first and last time ! ’ ’ 

“ Generous and noble soul,” said Evange- 


278 


A Cuban Amazon. 


line, as her tears fell upon the hand he ex- 
tended to her, “ why, why do I so ill repay 
you ! Your love is indeed that which 
ennobles the heart that yields it, and her who 
will one day recompense you for the loss of 
me. Be assured, that if the hour ever comes 
when I have need of one man’s honest friend- 
ship, I will call on you — as upon a brother.” 

Then weeping, but yet firm in her resolve, 
Evangeline flung her arms about his neck, 
and kissed him — frankly — tenderly — affection- 
ately — as a sister would kiss a dear brother — 
that was all. Then he passed out of the 
room, and her tears hid him from sight. She 
heard the clang of the iron door, and Evan- 
geline Cisneros was once more alone ! 

That night “The Ruby” passed the Car- 
cel ; and on the deck stood three men whose 
eyes were turned toward that gloomy building 
until the shadows of the night hid it from 
their view. 


A Cuban Amazon, 


279 


CHAPTER XXIX. 

“ The first dark day of nothingness, 

The last of danger and distress ! ” 

— Byron. 

“ Good-bye, proud world ! I’m going home ! ” 

At last came the fatal day when the last of 
the brave band of patriots were to die. The 
murderous order arrived, and they were 
marched to the chapel under guard, to spend 
their last hours in prayer to the Almighty 
who gave them life and before whom they 
were soon to appear. 

Condemned to die for deeds that the court 
had decided were a crime, and with the hour 
near at hand, yet in the entire list of sins 
these men confessed to the priest before 
execution, not one mentioned their rebellion. 
To them it was right — pure and simple — and 
not a sin requiring confession and absolution. 
Not because their consciences were less sensi- 
tive than the consciences of other men, but 
because from birth — yea, and before — they had 
been taught that to liberate Cuba was the 
greatest act of which one could be accredited. 


280 


A Cuban Amazon. 


Through the days of childhood and youth, 
when their characters were forming, the Cuban 
mother soothed their slumbers with songs of 
war and daring, and later on, they played with 
their companions at fighting for liberty. 
Thus from the day of their birth to the day of 
death, Cuba’s liberty was the one prize for 
which they had striven and for which all that 
life holds was cheerfully sacrificed. 

As the hours sped onward toward morning, 
the men began — as is ever the case with lov- 
ing hearts when death is coming with giant 
strides to meet them — to wander in the past. 
They remembered the days of childhood when 
life was but joy — no cares, no worries ; then 
youth — that golden period of life when every- 
thing is rosy-hued, and life and all its honors 
and rewards are waiting to be made our own. 
Now they are youths, tilling the soil, planting 
the grain, gathering the tobacco, and when 
the day’s work is finished driving the cattle 
home over the softly rolling hills, through the 
intervening valleys, knee deep in ferns, or 
perhaps a tangled undergrowth of vines 
through which they cut a path with their 
machetes; stopping to rest upon the stump 
of some pine, or 'palma real., which the light- 
ning’s bolt has smitten, and at length onward 


A Cuban Amazon. 


281 


to the little home — scarce more than a hut, 
but still home — there to end the long, long 
day in sleep— such sleep as comes only to 
care-free youth. 

Then comes the enchanted time of life 
when cupid shoots his first arrow at the heart ; 
and perfect marksman that he is, never fails 
to send his arrow home. Love remains — to 
brighten and sweeten all the darker spots of 
existence, and to make light the burden and 
easy the pathway of light ! And love alone 
it is that never passes away from the spot 
where its footsteps have once pressed the earth, 
and reclaimed the savage. Traditions, free- 
dom, the thirst for glory, art, laws, creeds 
even, vanish ; but the eye thrills the breast, 
and hand warms hand, as before the name of 
Lycurgus was heard or Helen was borne a 
bride to the home of Menelaus. Under the 
influence of this power something of their 
youth came back to them, and with it the 
power to endure in silence, and unshrinkingly. 

It was, therefore, with fortitude that 
amounted almost to exultation that these 
brave men heard the music of the band as it 
marched at the head of the troops to the place 
of execution. A moat, empty and grass- 
grown now, ran entirely round the fortress. 


282 


A Cuban Amazon. 


and in this it was decided that the shooting 
should take place. It was from fifty to one 
hundred yards wide and eighty yards deep ; 
and in olden days, when filled with water, 
constituted one of the strongest protections 
of the fortress. The exact spot selected was 
near to the eastern gate, and at the widest 
part of the moat. 

The authorities had purposely chosen a gala 
day for the execution, and crowds lined the 
walls and the outworks as early as five 
o’clock in the morning. At about a quarter 
to seven the band was heard advancing, and 
soon came in sight, followed by three battal- 
ions of Spanish infantry. The troops formed 
three sides of a square, with the band, the 
commanding officer, and his bugler in the 
center. The bugler sounded, and the band 
ceased playing; the troops were ordered to 
fix bayonets, stand at ease, and then silence. 
The bugler received an order and returned 
into the fortress. Seven o’clock struck ; the 
bugler sounded, and then commenced the last 
march of these Cuban patriots. The proces- 
sion soon emerged from the fortress ; the 
prisoners, with their arms bound behind them, 
were surrounded by the priests. 

As they advanced into the open, with heads 


A Cuban Amazon. 


283 


erect and faces calm, they were covered by the 
rifles of the firing party. As they caught 
sight of the crowds, the prisoners cried out as 
if by previous agreement: “ Viva Cuba 
Libre! qui vi — va!^"' The priests admonished 
them for this outburst, and the prisoners took 
up the positions assigned them. There was 
no faltering in their steps ; they bore them- 
selves bravely and with pride. 

At the requests of the priests they knelt 
down with their faces toward the wall. The 
firing party advanced, the officer with his 
sword drawn. The priests gave their bless- 
ing and retired. Not a word was spoken, but 
the officer raised his weapon, and the men 
took aim at the kneeling figures. The officer 
dropped his blade — there was a crash — a cloud 
of smoking flame — and the souls of those men, 
whose only crime was the defense of their 
country and of their families from dishonor, 
went home to Him who gave them life and 
^ found rest, and a quiet sleep on the broad 
breast of that impartial mother who gives to 
each of her children the same embrace — the 
same welcome. 

That the men died instantly, therefore pain- 
lessly, there can be no question, as the bullets 
passed through the head of each victim, the 


284 


A Cuban Amazon. 


splash being discerned where they struck the 
wall. 

Immediately after, the band began to play 
a lively quickstep called, “The Spanish Vol- 
unteer,” and paraded past the bodies, fol- 
lowed by the troops of the garrison, each 
rank as it passed being given the order, 
“Eyes right!” The bodies were given in^ 
charge of the undertaker, and transported in 
coffins to the cemetery in Havana, guarded by 
the firing party until they were placed in 
graves and the earth heaped upon them. 

Oh, brave and generous hearts! Strong 
indeed must have been the motive power of 
your action to cause you thus to risk so much, 
dare so much peril, and suffer so much injus- 
tice ! What save Hope, the sublime inspirer 
or the arch corrupter, the foe of terror, the 
defier of consequences, could thus uphold you 
you to the end? Yes, one thing else — love 
of liberty! 


A Cuban Amazon. 


285 


CHAPTER XXX. 

“All these woes shall serve 
For discourses in our time to come.’ 

— Shakespeare. 

“ * * farewell goes out sighing.” — Ibid. 

Thus came the end to the last of the little 
party of Cubans who started out under Cis- 
neros with such brave hearts and such high 
hopes for Cuba’s liberty. All sleep “ as sleep 
the brave,” and in the memory of that coun- 
try they are forever enshrined. 

Only one lives of all that patriot band that 
gathered together in opposition to tyranny 
under the pines and palms of the little “ Isle 
of Pines,” and over whose heads the brill- 
iant-hued parrots and parroquets and count- 
less other bright-plumaged birds, whose 
feathers gleamed like jewels as they flitted 
from pine to pine, and screamed and chat- 
tered their defiance of the presence of man ; 
and she is condemned to twenty years at Fer- 
nando Po, in chains, and at hard labor! Is it 
not enough to make one almost doubt an 
overruling and all-protecting Providence? 


286 


A Cuban Amazon. 


She is ignorant of the ignominious fate of 
her father, and lies in her prison hoping 
against hope that his friends will procure 
his release. Kind friends have considerately 
kept from her the truth concerning that 
fondly-loved father, and the Alquazil has 
been well bribed to remain silent. The offi- 
cial notice of the commutation of her death 
sentence has been served on her, and she 
awaits transportation to Fernando Po, be- 
lieving, trusting, that before that time the 
awakened sympathies of America shall have 
freed her country from the barbarous yoke of 
Spain. Friends have been tireless in her be- 
half, and have even roused the sympathies of 
that brave, honest man, that best beloved and 
most manly of European sovereigns, Francis 
Joseph, Emperor of Austria. It is believed 
by many that owing to the intercession of the 
Emperor, the Queen Regent' of Spain will 
grant a full pardon to Evangeline Cossio Cis- 
neros. 

***** 

To the author is always conceded the pos- 
session of the spirit of prophecy. Let us 
therefore lift the curtain that conceals the 
future from our view. 

Five years have gone by, and Cuba is free ! 


A Cuban Amazon, 


287 


The hated Spaniard has been driven from her 
shores, and she has taken her place beside her 
sister republics. Peace has folded her white 
wings and her spirit hovers like a benedic- 
over the island. Already brave hearts and 
willing hands have begun to repair the rav- 
ages of war. Cities and towns are being re- 
built — some indeed no longer show signs of 
the bloody footprints of the invading Span- 
iard. The fields are being tilled, and the men 
are singing as they toil. The landscape is 
dotted here and there — thickly — with the 
homes of the laborers. Cattle are lowing as 
they seek the shelter of the barnyard, and the 
land is a land of prosperity and plenty. 

One of the last battles of that most bloody 
war was most disastrous to th’e Spaniards. 
Juan Berrez led a charge in person, and fell 
wounded unto death. As he was being car- 
ried to the rear that he might receive atten- 
tion, he asked faintly : 

“ How long shall I live, surgeon? Answer 
truly.” 

“Not long, your Excellency — until morn- 
ing, perhaps.” 

“Then go, go quickly to the Carcel Real 
des Renardios and bring to my side Evange- 
line Cisneros, a prisoner most unjustly con- 


288 


A Cuban Afnazon. 


fined, and whom I have deeply wronged. Go 
— O God, have mercy!” — this, as the pain 
of his wound tore his vitals. “Go quickly ; I 
can not die in peace unless I implore and re- 
ceive her pardon.” 

His order was obeyed, and Evangeline was 
hurried to his side. Death was coming fast 
and the pain was almost intolerable. 

“ Senorita,” he gasped, “I wronged you 
deeply, but forgive and let me die in peace. 
Oh, Evangeline, you can never guess how 
fondly I loved you ! It was your refusal of 
my love that drove me on to such wickedness. 
Forgive, oh forgive me! ” 

“As I hope for forgiveness for myself, 
Senor, I freely and fully forgive you. May 
your soul find peace and rest beyond this weary 
world! ” 

He clasped her hand and held it fast, his 
eyes closing in an uneasy slumber. Presently 
they opened wide, a look not of earth filling 
the dark orbs. He tried to speak, but his 
voice was gone. Evangeline bent over him 
and asked gently: “Can I help you?” 

“ I ever loved you — even when most I 
wronged you,” he whispered. “Forgive me! 
oh, Evangeline ! my one only love ! Forgive ! 
for-g ” And the soul of Juan Berrez 


A Cuban Amazon. 


289 


went out on its way alone. Evangeline closed 
his eyes and performed those offices that 
only a woman can perform, then left him to 
his friends. 

Just before hostilities ceased, Evangeline 
Cisneros was pardoned by Her Majesty the 
Queen Regent, and immediately entered a 
convent. There she found the rest and peace 
for her ruined life that she could not find out- 
side its gates. She did not learn of her 
father’s fate until she had been within the 
walls of Santa Lucia for some months. One 
day there came a summons for Sister Mary 
Magdalen to go to the reception room. When 
she entered she found that her visitors were 
George Wilson, the former American war 
correspondent, and with him his wife, a 
pretty, sweet American girl, who met Evan- 
geline as one would meet a dear sister. 

As was natural, Evangeline asked ques- 
tions concerning all mutual acquaintances. 
First Wilson told her of Fred Burke. He had 
gone as correspondent to Crete during the 
rebellion, and there lost his life. Before 
leaving, however, he had sent to Wilson the 
ring and lock of hair of Evangeline’s father, 
and begged him to deliver them to her should 
he hear that he (Burke) had lost his life in 

19 


290 


A Cuban Amazon. 


Crete, as he had a premonition that he should 
do. He begged Wilson to convey his fondest 
remembrances to the one love of his life, and 
told him that existence held no pleasure for 
him since he could no longer see her. 

Evangeline’s tears dropped thick and fast 
on the lock of silvery hair and the ring ; and 
they fell in memory of the brave true heart 
that had loved her so faithfully and at the 
same time so hopelessly, as well as for the 
noble father whose suffering and death had 
made him a martyr. 

“ Burke’s was a brave soul,” said Wilson ; 
and then he related to her the part that 
Burke had taken at her father’s trial and 
subsequent death. 

The girl listened to the end, and then said : 

“So long as I live, I shall pray for the 
repose of the souls of the two bravest and 
tenderest men whom it has been my good 
fortune to know — my father and Fred Burke ! 
I am honored in having been the daughter of 
the one, and the beloved of the other.” 

Wilson and his bride bade her an affec- 
tionate and tearful farewell, knowing as they 
did that never in this world would they meet 
again. 

One joy came into Evangeline’s sorrowful 


A Cuban Amazon. 


291 


existence — the pardoning of Judge Cassuso 
and his return from Fernando Po. Then she 
took up the work of her life. Where disease 
and death stalk, no matter how hideous the garb 
in which they clothe themselves, there is the 
sad face and gentle, soothing hand of Sister 
Marie Magdalena. Where sorrow and grief 
dwell, there come the low, sympathetic voice, 
the soothing words of the young sister ; to 
those unfortunates whose lives have been 
ruined by the false tongue and falser heart of 
man, there is ever one friend whose voice 
encourages and whose hand assists. Thus 
she spends her life — a sister of charity. She 
is not all unhappy ; she has lived to see her 
beloved land free, and to find work for her 
hands to do — work that brings with it such 
peace and comfort, as is in itself a sort of 
happiness. 

The Cubans venerate her as a martyr and 
saint ; and so she goes onward toward the 
“ valley of the shadow,” believing that she 
will be united with her loved ones and 
dwell with them forever “ where the wicked 
cease from troubling, and the weary are at 
rest!” 


THE END. 


292 


A Cuban Amazon. 


AUTHOR’S NOTE. 

Since writing the last words of “A Cuban 
Amazon” the entire world has been stirred 
by the publication in a New York newspaper 
of some of the sufferings and indignities, 
the insults and persecutions, to which 
that martyr to liberty — Evangeline Cossio 
Cisneros — is daily subjected, and has been 
for more than a year. The crime of which 
she is guilty and for which she is so cruelly 
punished is : love of country and family, 
hatred of tyranny and oppression — and most 
heinous of all in the eyes of those in author- 
ity, scorn and loathing for a human beast who 
encumbers the earth and is the military gov- 
ernor of the Isle of Pines — Colonel Juan Ber- 
rez ! 

Because this high-born girl, in whose veins 
flows the most aristocratic blood of Cuba, 
whose family previous to this cruel war were 
wealthy enough to grant any wish or whim 
Evangeline might have, because she refused 
to become the wife of Berrez — he insulted 
her, and when she resented the insult he be- 


A Cuban Amazon. 


293 


gan his persecutions which culminated in her 
incarceration in that most loathsome prison, 
the Real del Renardios, or “ House of Sweep- 
ings.” 

There she was confined like a beast, in 
chains, with women, both black and white, 
who were considered too vile to walk upon 
the streets of Havana, that city of license ! 
As if this in itself was not enough, Evan- 
geline was made to scrub the floors of this 
prison den, reeking with filth and vermin, 
while a negro harlot stood by with power to 
use the lash if the scrubbing did not please 
her! Think of it, mothers with fair young 
daughters ! Think of it, men with sisters and 
wives ! 

Between times Berrez — who, by the way, is 
the nephew of the late Spanish Premier and 
a pet adjutant of Weyler, that monster in the 
guise of a human creature ! — the Marquis of 
Cervera, and other Spanish officials offered 
the poor girl her freedom in exchange for her 
honor! When she refused, Weyler threat- 
ened to send her for twenty years to Ceuta, 
Africa, and re-incarcerated her in general 
prison from which she had been removed. 

These facts having been made public through 
two newspapers, the women of America rose 


294 


A Cuban Amazon. 


in their might, and headed by such names as 
Mrs. Jefferson Davis, Mrs. Julia Dent Grant, 
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, Mrs. Nancy Allison 
McKinley, and scores of others equally dis- 
tinguished, sent a monster petition of twenty- 
five thousand names to the pious Queen Re- 
gent of Spain, praying her to release Evange- 
line Cisneros. The Holy Father, Pope Leo 
XIH., has also been petitioned to use his 
powerful influence with the Queen, which he 
has promised to do, and to-day we are in- 
formed that Evangeline Cisneros has been re- 
moved to a convent, there to remain “until 
her case can be examined.” 

Those who from long association are con- 
versant with Spanish promises and Spanish 
falsehoods, claim that far from being removed 
to better quarters, Evangeline has been placed 
in solitary confinement, where those '‘'‘trouble- 
some Americanos ” will not be able to learn so 
much about her. Whether that be true or 
not, only time can prove. 

The Spanish Minister at Washington, Senor 
de Lome, is in an agony of diplomatic shame 
at seeing his country pilloried before the civil- 
ized world for its treatment of an innocent 
eighteen-year-old girl, and has evinced the true 


A Cuban Amazon. 


295 

Spanish spirit in his master efforts to defame 
her in her helplessness. 

This is neither brave nor manly, but it seems 
to be true Spanish policy, as witness de Lome, 
Berrez, Weyler, Marquis de Cervera, Alegro 
Campos, and others, all of whom have used 
the same weapons against a defenseless girl. 

That the day is not far distant when this 
girl-martyr of Cuba will have both freedom 
and the right to speak the truth openly, show- 
ing to the entire world how vile are those who 
have held the Spanish forces and exploited the 
Spanish policy, is the prayer of fifty thousand 
American women, one of whom is 

The Author. 


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